(Iroquois County–jm) – A former Iroquois county teacher will spend the next 25 years in prison after he reached a plea agreement for child pornography charges he was facing. The Ford County Chronicle reports  38 year old Brett Sorensen of Paxton, a former teacher in the Clifton Central School District, was sentenced to 15 years in prison for one count of child pornography and 10 years for pornography involving a victim under the age of 13. In exchange for his guilty plea, 6 additional child pornography charges were dismissed.

(Springfield–jc)  – With a new energy measure signed into law by Illinois Governor J B Pritzker, the renewable sector of energy  with wind and solar costs, could skyrocket. That is the word from conservatives in Springfield. The new law allows much less oversight and regulatory controls. 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet, says all Illinoisans need to keep a close eye on energy costs this winter and beyond…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet

(Urbana-jm) – An Urbana man is facing child pornography charges after the University of Illinois Police Department said they found him in possession of child sex abuse material. 23 year old Haocheng Charlie Wang is charged with a single count of possessing a moving depiction of child pornography. Wang pleaded not guilty and was released on pretrial release. He’s due back in court February 24th.

(USDA–dm)-What are the primary play calls for Super Bowl party planners and food safety experts when assuring delicious yet safe selections for watching the game, or for any pre or post-game events? Rod Bain has the story

(The Center Square) – Gun rights advocates in Illinois are raising alarms over House Bill 43, legislation that would create a state task force to study civil liability insurance for firearm owners. Critics say the bill could lead to new burdens for law-abiding gun owners. Aaron Dorr, executive director of the Illinois Firearms Association, described the measure as “another major attack on our gun rights.”

He dismissed the notion that the legislation is aimed at reducing crime.HB0043 would create a Task Force on Firearm Insurance to study current and future policies and make recommendations, with members appointed by the governor and legislative leaders and administrative support from the Department of Insurance.

(Ford Co–dm)-Plans are underway for the 2026 Ford County Fair scheduled for June 13-20.  The board recently met and elected officers.  Ford County Fair Spokesperson Diane Perkins tells us who the officers are.

Ford County Fair Spokesperson Diane Perkins

(Springfield–jc)   The Illinois State Board of Education is seeking sponsors and sites for the Summer Food Service Program  to help ensure children across Illinois have access to free meals during the summer months. The program is funded by the U.S. Department of Agriculture , and served more than 4.2 million meals and snacks last summer. Interested parties should reach out to the state board of education or U-S-D-A.icts already operating the National School Lunch Program. In addition to SFSP, more than 1 million meals and snacks were served last summer by SSO sponsors across the state.  Summer Meals programs operates in 74 of the state’s 102 counties in 20-25.

(Undated-jm) – As Central Illinois communities consider allowing data centers to be built, residents are concerned about the long-term impacts. The Union of Concerned Scientists is a national nonprofit advocating for science-based policy solutions. A study found that data centers have a high demand for electricity which can have a negative impact on public health and the environment. Data centers that run on gas or coal can have serious health implications, such as respiratory issues, cardiovascular problems, premature deaths and also increased climate pollution. Many residents are worried that data centers will increase their utility bills.

(Paxton–jc)  The Paxton E R S is looking for some new members. The local service group is growing and needs some additional help. E R S Spokesperson Kate Turner says contact the group through facebook or face to face…

E R S of Paxton Spokesperson Kate Turner

(Urbana-jm) – An argument over a parking space is what prosecutors say led to a shooting in Urbana Wednesday. John Webb made his first appearance in court Thursday. He is charged with attempted murder, aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a felon. If convicted of attempted murder, he faces up to life in prison. Webb pleaded not guilty and is due back in court February 24th.

(Ford Co–dm)-In January the CRIS rural transportation provider for Ford and Iroquois counties ceased operations. Program Compliance Oversight Manager for Ford, Iroquois and Livingston Counties Monte Andrews explains

Program Compliance Oversight Manager for Ford, Iroquois and Livingston Counties Monte Andrews

(Illinois–dm)-Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs is encouraging people to visit the state’s missing money website ahead of National Unclaimed Property Day on Sunday. Frerichs said an estimated one in four adults who check the treasurer's I-cash site discover they have missing money or other unclaimed property.

(Buckley–dm)-Christ Lutheran High School in Buckley will be holding their annual Spaghetti Drive Thru this Sunday.  Executive Director Sandy Spitz has the information.

Executive Director of Christ Lutheran School Sandy Spitz

(Springfield–jc)  –A Sangamon County judge Thursday morning gave former Sangamon County Sheriff’s Deputy Sean Grayson the maximum sentence — 20 years in prison — for the July 2024 murder of Sonya Massey, culminating a nationally publicized case that led to ongoing discussions and action locally to bridge racial divides. Circuit Judge Ryan Cadagin stated that Sean Grayson could end up serving less than half of that time in prison with the lesser charge of second-degree murder.

(Paxton–jc) Paxton police and Paxton Fire Department personnel were called to an accident at Pells and Washington on Wednesday morning. Authorities say a driver lost control of their vehicle and crashed into a house. Emergency officials were on the scene for several hours. 

(Coles County–jc)   State Police were called to a multiple vehicle accident scene in Coles County on Thursday morning. The accidents happened along Interstate 57 south of Mattoon near mile marker185. Southbound traffic was re routed for several hours.

WPXN News notes…

The Loda United Methodist Church will have a free concert with Eric Gordon and Friends on Saturday January 31st at 4pm. A potluck will follow the concert.

The Hoopeston Area FFA will hold their alumni scholarship auction on Saturday, January 31st at The Legion. Silent auction starts at 4, dinner will be served at 4:30 and the live auction begins at 6.

Parkland College’s Staerkel Planetarium will hold their Kaler Lecture Series on Friday, February 6th at 7pm with University of Illinois Entomology Professor Alexandra Harmon-Threatt  presenting “Conserving Native Bees in Uncertain Times”. Cost is $2.

The 13th annual Milford FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction will take place on Saturday, February 7th at Milford Town and Country Events. Doors open at 11 am, lunch is served at noon with the auction starting at 1pm.

The St. Joseph Ogden FFA annual auction will take place on Saturday, February 7th at the St. Joseph Ogden High School. Doors open at 4:30pm , dinner and silent auction begins at 5 with the live auction beginning at 6pm.

(Springfield-jm) – The Abraham Lincoln Presidential Library and Museum will celebrate Abraham Lincoln's birthday with two days of free admission. Guests will be able to get into the library for free on his actual birthday, February 12, and also on Saturday, February 7, for a day of stories, games and music for children. The library will also have its signed copy of the Emancipation Proclamation on display.

(Springfield–jc)  One local state representative seeks to bring a balanced budget and one with savings and no new taxes. That is something that has not been done in recent years. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington says Illinois has to change its outlook for all Illinoisans…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington. 

(Urbana-jm) – The City of Urbana has announced funding applications for grants to various public or private not-for-profit agencies will soon open for the upcoming program year. The program year will run from July 1 to June 30, 2027. According to the City, this grant will help fund programs and services for low-income community members. Urbana said the grant opportunity will focus on the following areas: education, employment and job training, domestic violence services, healthcare, food security, family support and special needs, senior services, immigrant services, violence prevention, youth services and housing and homelessness prevention. Applications through Neighborly will open Tuesday, February 3rd online. The submission deadline is 5 p.m. on Monday, April 6.

(Watseka–jc)  It’s the middle of winter, but area farmers are looking at their options for crop insurance. Farm Credit Illinois Crop Insurance Specialist Jason Rust says each year there are different options and challenges for farmers…

Farm Credit Illinois Crop Insurance Specialist Jason Rust

(Livingston County-jm) — A Georgia man is under investigation after sheriff's police in Livingston County seized over $22,000 from a vehicle during a traffic stop.  The un-identified man was the only person in the vehicle.  Police report the man was on federal probation with supervised release -- on a money laundering case. A Livingston County sheriff’s deputy seized the cash during a traffic stop in Pontiac near West Reynolds and North Deerfield roads and involved a rental vehicle.  During the stop, a sheriff’s office canine conducted a free-air sniff and alerted to the vehicle, prompting a search, officials said. Deputies reported finding $22,151 inside a black backpack. Investigators said the currency is believed to be connected to illegal activity.

(Paxston–jc)  It’s more musical acts to line dancing at The Cadillac in Paxton.  The Cadillac owner Allen Meyer says February brings a wide variety of acts to the city of Paxton, including “smells like Nirvana” …

The Cadillac of Paxton Owner Allen Meyer. Other acts are line dancing on February 13th and Whiskey Friends on February 20th. The venue will also host a fundraiser with Living Word Church next month.

(The Center Square) – Illinois American Water has filed a request with the Illinois Commerce Commission to raise customer rates in January 2027. The company says the typical residential water customer would see an increase of about $14 per month, and the typical customer served by sanitary wastewater systems would see an increase of about 28dollars  per month.  The Citizens Utility Board promised to challenge the request.

(Paxton–jc)  The public is  invited to hear Ford County Sheriff Chad Johnson speak about law enforcement challenges and opportunities in today’s world at the next Republican Quarterly Breakfast. The event is set for Saturday, February 21 from 8:15 am – 9:30am at the Arcade Café in Paxton. 

(Champaign-jc)  The Southbound lanes of Interstate 57 were shut down over several hours overnight. The reason was a semi trailer caught fire. The incident happened just after 9pm near mile marker 234 near the I-72 exchange in Champaign County. The southbound lanes opened for normal traffic just after midnight this morning. 

(The Center Square) – Democratic and Republican lawmakers clashed this week after a West Chicago teacher was placed on administrative leave over a social media post interpreted as supporting Immigration and Customs Enforcement.

Democrats called the message harmful, and Republicans warned against targeting federal law enforcement.The teacher’s name has not been disclosed. 

State Senator . Karina Villa, Democrat fromWest Chicago, condemned the message as harmful to immigrant families and students. Republicans, however, pushed back forcefully. State Representative Adam Niemerg, republican from Dieterich,  accused Democrats of fueling hostility toward federal law enforcement and politicizing a vague, two-word post.

(Washington–jc)  What is the impact of the current winter weather that saw wind chills near 20 below along with ice and snow over a large portion of the country. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey has some answers…

U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey

(Champaign-jm) – A Champaign magnet school will receive a $20,000 grant to support a project centered around community connection. Stratton Academy of the Arts is receiving the grant from Healing Illinois. Healing Illinois is funded by the Illinois Department of Human Services, supporting projects that foster racial healing and community healing by honoring the histories, experiences, and voices of Illinois communities.

(Rantoul–jc) Class number 66 just started this month at the Lincoln’s Challenge program in Rantoul. Lincoln’s Challenge Public Relations Director Michael Camacho says its a 22 week program that helps youth find their potential…

Rantoul based Lincoln’s Challenge Program Public Relations Director Michael Camacho. Those completed the program will graduate in June and class number 67 will start in July in Rantoul

(Urbana-jm) – The University of Illinois’ Soybean Innovation Lab is still feeling the impacts of its USAID funding being cut in March last year. Workers said the lab went from having 30 workers to nine. They also said many of them worked without pay for months. The workers said the Gates Foundation is funding their research on preventing crop disease in Africa through 2027. Congressman Raja Krishnamoorthi, a candidate to replace retiring Senator Dick Durbin, talked to the remaining workers this week about the lab’s future. Krishnamoorthi said restoring USAID funding to programs is not in the next federal budget, which will be voted on Friday.

(Hoopeston–jc)  –  The Hoopeston Area High School F F A is hosting their annual scholarship auction on saturday in the city. Hoopeston Area High School F F A Member Ken Anderson says the event starts at 4pm Saturday afternoon at the Hoopeston American Legion…

Hoopeston Area High School F F A Spokesperson Ken Anderson

(Urbana–jc)  A Champaign County man was injured Wednesday morning in a shooting that happened near Colorado Avenue in Urbana. In updating our story from Wednesday, the victim was shot in the neck and taken to a local hospital. Upon investigation Urbana police arrested 48 year old John Webb of Urbana. Champaign County crimestoppers is seeking information on this shooting. Those with information area asked to call 217-373-8477. The investigation continues

(Washington–jc)  Saying Illinois' laws giving illegal immigrants discounted college tuition "flagrantly" violates federal law, the Justice Department has asked a southern Illinois federal judge to close the book on the state's bid to toss the White House's lawsuit seeking to end the state's practices. The filing came as the latest step in a court battle that began last year, as part of the legal campaign launched by the Justice Department under President Donald Trump to clamp down on programs and policies in states led by Democrats providing a host of benefits to illegal immigrants, despite federal laws ostensibly prohibiting them from doing so.

WPXN News notes…

CU at Home will hold their One Winter Night to raise awareness about homelessness on Friday, February 6th starting at 5:30pm.

The 13th annual Milford FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction will take place on Saturday, February 7th at Milford Town and Country Events. Doors open at 11 am, lunch is served at noon with the auction starting at 1pm.

The St. Joseph Ogden FFA annual auction will take place on Saturday, February 7th at the St. Joseph Ogden High School. Doors open at 4:30pm , dinner and silent auction begins at 5 with the live auction beginning at 6pm.

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Onarga American Legion on Wednesday, February 11th from 1-6 pm.

The American Red Cross will hold a blood drive at the Rantoul City Schools Central Office on Friday, February 13th from 11-4.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Supreme Court ruled that Grain Belt Express developers have met requirements to finance a transmission line project across Central Illinois. However, landowners are worried about potential damage to property throughout Christian, Clark, Cumberland and Shelby counties. Clean Life Energy Partners first talked about running a transmission line from Kansas to a power grid in Indiana in 2015, but the Grain Belt Express faced multiple legal challenges after the Illinois Commerce Commission approved the project.  Oral arguments before the Illinois Supreme Court came just months after the Trump administration canceled a $4.9 billion loan for Grain Belt Express. Developers stress they still plan to start construction this year. Yet, landowners and farmers argue the company should be banned from building the transmission line. Illinois lawmakers addressed some concerns by allowing non-utility companies to receive certificates for projects under the 2021 Climate and Equitable Jobs Act. Still, the Illinois Farm Bureau said farmers want energy for public use from responsible actors that comply with state and federal laws.

(Undated-jm) – The average price of gas in Illinois is 29.2 cents cheaper than this time last year according to GasBuddy. According to their latest report, the average price of a gallon of gas in Illinois has risen to $2.94, 7.5 cents higher than last week. However, prices are 1.9 cents per gallon cheaper than last month. The national average rose 7.5 cents last week to $3.23 a gallon.

DANVILLE – As electric vehicles become an increasingly common part of today’s transportation landscape, Danville Area Community College is launching a new Electric Vehicle Technology Certificate to prepare students for careers in a rapidly growing sector of the automotive industry. The 29-credit certificate provides hands-on training in electric and hybrid vehicle systems, including diagnostics, electrical technology,  and high-voltage safety. All of the courses are currently offered

(Springfield–jc)  There continues to be disputes from some in Springfield over the “Clean and Reliable Grid Act” signed into law by Illinois Governor J B Pritzker. The law is intended to lower prices on electricity in the state, but 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet, says the new law will do just the opposite and raise costs in electricity…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet

(Paxton-jm) – Several Ford County residents are facing animal cruelty charges. 

WCIA and the Ford County Chronicle are reporting an incident involving several Paxton residents in two separate cases. One of those  cases is due in Ford County court later today.

(Paxton–jc)  Upgrades to the Clayton Hale walk bridge in the city of Paxton continue. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the project remains in the hands of the Illinois Department of Transportation…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Undated-jm) – United Airlines is returning to Central Illinois. Willard Airport announced Tuesday United Airlines will be offering four flights daily to Chicago O’Hare 7 days a week starting April 30th. They will also be offering four daily flights to Chicago O’Hare out of Central Illinois Regional Airport in Bloomington. Those flights start May 7th.

(St Joseph–jc)  One area High School F F A Chapter is busy all year long with competitions and chapter projects. St Joe Ogden F F A Chapter President Delaney Nakolny says they have an auction coming up and the chapter is always busy in competitions…

St Joe Ogden F F A Chapter President Delanaey Nakolny. The St Joe Ogden F F A Auction is set for Saturday February 7th. Dinner and auction start at 5 and the live auction at 6 at the high school. 

(Springfield–jc)  – The Illinois State Treasurer’s Office is holding an online auction of unclaimed property through Sunday. Available items include a 1918 Centennial Lincoln half dollar, admission tickets from the 1893 World’s Columbian Exposition, comics featuring the Green Lantern and Wonder Woman, and collectible cards featuring sports Hall of Famers like Lou Brock, Ryne Sandberg, Marshall Faulk and Michael Jordan. A total of 150 lots will be auctioned from an online catalog.

(Springfield-jm) – Democratic lawmakers are renewing their push for the Illinois Investment Policy Board to stop restricting state funding for companies boycotting Israel. The Coalition for Human Rights says the current state law is dangerous for people protesting the war in Gaza. The Illinois Investment Policy Board can restrict public funds to any company if it believes the group is boycotting Israel. However, a growing number of lawmakers and advocates argue the law requires Illinois' pension fund to stop investing in companies standing up for Palestinian rights. Rep. Abdelnasser Rashid filed the Illinois Human Rights Advocacy Protection Act last February, but the bill has been blocked from receiving a committee hearing. A companion bill in the Senate has faced the same issue, but advocates are committed to getting the plan passed in 2026. Lawmakers could address the legislation when they return to the Capitol next month. Representative Carol Ammons of Urbana is one of 20 co-sponsors for this bill in the House. There are 14 co-sponsors for the Senate version of the plan.

(Washinton–jc)  –Enrollment takes place between now and February 26th for U-S-D-A's Dairy Margin Coverage with new enhancements for the program. Rod Bain reports…

(The Center Square) – According to new estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau, Illinois’ population has risen for the third straight year. Data released on Tuesday showed Illinois with an estimated 12 million 719 thousand people as of July First last year.  The state’s number is 16 thousand higher than a year ago but 76 thousand  lower than it was in 2020.

(Springfield-jm) – Changes to SNAP benefits are less than a week away. Federal changes mean many Illinoisans with qualifying status will change February 1. The Illinois Department of Human Resources said it sent initial notices and exemption form copies to those impacted. It also provided a new resource for residents to see if they qualify for work exemptions.

(Urbana–jc)  This is definitely the cold and flu season. Each year another strain of flu comes with its symptoms and problems. Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamadou Townkara provides some insight into H-3-N-2…

Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamadou Townkara. If you have flu symptoms, stay home and contact your doctor, if needed. 

(Charleston-jm) – Some changes could be coming to Eastern Illinois University in Charleston. One of the proposed changes is to merge the College of Education and the College of Health and Human Services. The move would save over half a million dollars although it's unknown whether it will impact staffing. Other changes coming to EIU include remodeling Thomas Hall and adding the Pemberton Hall Welcome Center and an Integrated Sciences Building.

(Paxton–jc)  There are always new laws and changes to tax payers each year. One change this year is for Seniors paying taxes. A new law gives Seniors a 6 thousand dollar deduction if you have taxable social security, says Shaffer Tax and Accounting of Paxton owner Jeff Shaffer…

Shaffer Tax and Accounting of Paxton Owner Jeff Shaffer

(Springfield–jc)  –  Illinois Governor JB Pritzker announced Tuesday a 50 million dollar  grant opportunity is available through the Rebuild Illinois Capital Program. The funding will support the Community Health Center Construction Grants for Federally Qualified Health Centers and look-alikes .  The grant opportunity expands access to healthcare services by facilitating the construction or renovation of community-based health care facilities, especially for centers in underserved and rural areas. 

(Chicago–jc)  -The Illinois Judicial Conference has unveiled its 2026-2028 strategic agenda for the state’s judicial branch.Chief Justice P. Scott Neville Jr. said the agenda focuses on removing barriers that prevent litigants from fully participating in the legal system. The IJC consists of 15 judges and 14 non-judges with the chief justice serving as chair.

WPXN NEWS notes…

The Loda United Methodist Church will have a free concert with Eric Gordon and Friends on Saturday January 31st at 4pm. A potluck will follow the concert.

The Hoopeston Area FFA will hold their alumni scholarship auction on Saturday, January 31st at The Legion. Silent auction starts at 4, dinner will be served at 4:30 and the live auction begins at 6.

The St. Mary’s St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus will hold their annual free throw contest on Sunday, February 1st at PBL High School. Doors open at noon with the competition beginning at 12:30. All kids ages 9-14 are invited to participate.

The 2026 Illinois Agriculture Summit will take place on Tuesday, February 3rd starting at 10 am at the I-Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign.

CU at Home will hold their One Winter Night to raise awareness about homelessness on Friday, February 6th starting at 5:30pm.

The 13th annual Milford FFA Alumni Scholarship Auction will take place on Saturday, February 7th at Milford Town and Country Events. Doors open at 11 am, lunch is served at noon with the auction starting at 1pm.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois continued to lose more residents to other states than it gained in the most recent year measured by the U.S. Census Bureau. The Census Bureau’s 2024 American Community Survey showed about 282,00 people moved out of Illinois to another state, with roughly 200,300 people moving to Illinois, resulting in a net loss of about 82,000 residents. The data tracks where people lived one year earlier, and does not include international immigration. Illinois’ biggest population losses were to Indiana, Wisconsin, Missouri, Michigan, and Iowa. More than 25,700 residents moved to Indiana in the past year, compared to about 14,100 Hoosiers who moved to Illinois. A similar pattern was observed in Wisconsin, as nearly 24,000 Illinois residents headed north, but only 14,100 Wisconsinites moved south. Outside of the Midwest, Florida and Texas remain major landing spots for Illinois residents.

(Chicago Heights–jc)  Illinois State Police special agents have arrested a Chicago Heights man in connection with a stolen-vehicle crash on Interstate 57 last year.

Demitreaun Ross, 20, is charged with reckless homicide, failure to report a crash resulting in death, and criminal trespass to a motor vehicle.

State Police say they identified Ross as the driver of a stolen vehicle involved in a two-vehicle collision on I-57 Three people were ejected from the other vehicle, including one who died.

(Paxton–jc)  Several gubernatorial candidates were in Paxton on Saturday at a free meet the candidates event. One candidate for the Republican nomination for governor is Dupage County Sheriff James Mendrick. Mendrick provides some insight into his background and policies for a “safe” Illinois…

Republican Candidate for Illinois Governor in the March Primary. DuPage County Sheriff James Mendrick from Woodridge.

(Watseka-jm) – A Watseka woman has been sentenced to prison for possessing meth. 32-year-old Kristin Kirby was sentenced to four years in prison after her guilty plea to Possession of Methamphetamine - with intent to deliver.  Watseka Police say Kirby  made the sale to a third party.  Upon investigation,  with a search warrant, police officials found meth at her home.

(Paxton–jc)  –  City of Paxton employees continue to do maintenance work during the winter months at the waste water plant. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold provides information on the completed work…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Paxton–jc)  Filing for taxes officially began on Monday. One new deduction is money on social security. It’s a help for senior citizens says Shaffer Tax and Accounting Owner Jeff Shaffer…

Shaffer Tax and Accounting Owner Jeff Shaffer

(Springfield–jc)  Illinois  Governor J-B Pritzker and the Illinois Department of Commerce and Economic Opportunity  Monday awarded more than 17 million dollars  in funding to 39 program recipients, serving up to nearly 2,000 community members statewide, to expand the Illinois Works Pre-Apprenticeship Program. The program creates a qualified talent pipeline of diverse candidates in the construction and building trades. Among the grants include 550 thousand dollars to Danville Area Community College and Lewis University in Joliet. Y-B-M-C in Normal received 350 thousand dollars in state funds.

(Champaign–jc)  –The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire in a ten-unit multi-family apartment building in the 500 block of W White Street on Monday afternoon. Fire crews were able to quickly extinguish the fire.

Firefighters responded to a report from a neighbor of a fire in this two-story building. Once on the scene, crews found smoke coming from a first-floor apartment. Firefighters worked to extinguish this fire using a single hose line.     

The cause of this fire has not been determined  No injuries were reported

(Kankakee–jc)  Clove Alliance, a not for profit group that serves survivors and families of sexual abuse in Kankakee Ford and Iroquois Counties is looking for volunteer help. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

(The Center Square) – A proposal for a state constitutional amendment to impose a millionaire’s tax has been referred to the Illinois House Rules Committee, but only half the revenues generated by the measure would be directed to property tax relief.

House Joint Resolution Constitutional Amendment 21 was referred to the committee earlier after being filed by State Representative Natalie Manley, Democrat from -Joliet, last October. The measure would impose a 3% tax on any individual's net income that is greater than $1 million for the taxable year. Half would go for property tax relief, and the other half would go to school districts on a per-pupil basis. The Chicago Teachers Union and Illinois Federation of Teachers have pushed for state-level “Tax the Rich” policies

(Paxton–jc)  Several gubernatorial candidates were in Ford County over the weekend at a meet and greet event. Republican candidate for Governor Ted Dabrowski provides a background on himself…

Republican Candidate for Illinois Governor Ted Dabrowski of Wilmette

(Ford County-jm) – A Ford County judge imposed a 20-year prison term on a man  for Unlawful Delivery of Methamphetamine.  In Court, prosecutors said that 64-year-old Allen Burgin of Urbana was part of a "major drug distribution ring" in Ford County.  Burgin pleaded guilty.  . Burgin was among four defendants facing meth charges from early 2025 in a controlled-buy case at a Gibson City park.  A co-defendant, 58-year-old Angela Rutledge of Roberts, also pleaded guilty.  She received an 11-year-old prison term last month.

(Gibson City–jc)  The primary Spring election is set for Tuesday March 17th in the state of Illinois. Former state senator Tom Bennett, a Republican from Gibson City says one major challenge for the minority Republican party in Illinois is to get a "fair map” for elections. The percentage of Democrats in the state is 52 percent and the percent for Republicans is 46 percent. Yet the democrats hold all 8 state offices and have a super majority in seats in Springfield. Bennett says informing the republican base to get out and vote is one major challenge for Republicans in March…

Former State Senator Tom Bennett, Republican from Gibson City. The March primary election is set for March 17th. 

(Illinois–jc)  Commercial trucking firms based in Illinois can now renew their federal registration credentials online. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office says companies with fewer than 250 vehicles can complete International Registration Plan renewals by uploading their I-R-S-issued Heavy Vehicle Use Tax Form 2290 and submitting payment electronically. More information about these renewals is available on-line.?

(Washington–jc)  Several assistance options are available through the U-S-D-A for farmers and ranchers impacted by Winter Storm Fern. Rod Bain reports…

(Champaign–jc)  –The Champaign Fire Department responded to a fire in a 12-unit multi-family apartment building in the 2400 block of High View Court Monday morning just after 10. Fire crews from both the Champaign and Urbana Fire Departments worked to extinguish this fire. Firefighters responded to a report of a fire in this three-story apartment building.  Once on scene, heavy smoke was coming from a second-floor apartment.  Multiple hose lines were extended to fight this fire.  As fire crews worked to extinguish the fire, a second alarm was called.          

The cause of this fire is not determined as investigators remain on scene conducting their investigation.  One occupant was treated on scene and transported to a local hospital for further evaluation.  There were no firefighter injuries reported. 

(Undated–jc)  Tax season has officially begun. The Certified Public Accountants Society has some tips to make it “frustration free.” WPXN’s Joel Cluver reports…

WPXN News notes…

The Loda United Methodist Church will have a free concert with Eric Gordon and Friends on Saturday January 31st at 4pm. A potluck will follow the concert.

The Hoopeston Area FFA will hold their alumni scholarship auction on Saturday, January 31st at The Legion. Silent auction starts at 4, dinner will be served at 4:30 and the live auction begins at 6.

The St. Mary’s St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus will hold their annual free throw contest on Sunday, February 1st at PBL High School. Doors open at noon with the competition beginning at 12:30. All kids ages 9-14 are invited to participate. More information is available by calling Trent Eshleman at 217-841-5621.

The 2026 Illinois Agriculture Summit will take place on Tuesday, February 3rd starting at 10 am at the I-Hotel and Conference Center in Champaign.

CU at Home will hold their One Winter Night to raise awareness about homelessness on Friday, February 6th starting at 5:30pm.

(Undated-jm) – Cold weather and snow is forcing schools to either go to e-learning today or closing, even colleges and universities. The University of Illinois is encouraging classes and staff work remote. Parkland College and Danville Area Community College both announced they are closed today. PBL, GCMS, St. Joe, Armstrong Potomac, Giffford Grade, Iroquois West, Ludlow Grade, Mahomet Seymour, Milford, Rantoul Township High School, Thomasboro Grade are all e learning today.

(Illinois–jc) Another Archdiocese of Chicago school has cited the end of Illinois’ Invest in Kids Scholarship Tax Credit Program as a reason for closing at the end of the current school year. The announcement by St. Jerome Catholic School last week follows a similar message from St. Stanislaus Kostka Academy earlier this month. Pastors from both communities said government scholarships taken from Catholic schools were a factor in the closings. Illinois’ scholarship tax credit program expired in December of  2023.

(Paxton–jc)  Around 250 people attended a Republican party free meet and greet event on Saturday in Paxton. Republican candidate for U. S Senate, Don Tracy says the state of Illinois needs a common sense voice in the nation’s capitol…

Republican U S Senate candidate Don Tracy of Springfield 

Republican candidate for Illinois Secretary of State, Diane Harris of Joliet was in attendance and says under her guidance, the D-M-V offices will be more accessible…

Illinois Secretary of State Candidate, Republican Diane Harris of Joliet

 The Ford County event on Saturday hosted over a dozen candidates for the Republican party for Governor, U S Senate, State offices to local Ford County candidates.  The Illinois Primary is Tuesday March 17th.

(Illilnois–jc)  The Illinois Department of Employment Security has announced that state’s unemployment rate was 4.6% in December, up 0.2 from November and down 0.3 from the same month one year ago. Total nonfarm payrolls increased 0.2% in December, based on data from the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics.

(Illinois–jc)  The Illinois Department of Revenue says it will begin accepting 2026 individual income tax returns today, the same day the Internal Revenue Service opens the federal filing season. The revenue department says people who file accurate returns electronically and select direct deposit typically receive their refunds in about four weeks. The deadline to file Illinois returns is April 15.

(Springfield–jc)  State legislators are back in Springfield this week and the spring session runs until May. 106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emington says it's time to balance a “real” budget…

106th District State Representative Jason Bunting, Republican from Emmington

(Rural Gilman-jm) - A Piper City man has died in a single vehicle accident in Iroquois County. The accident happened Saturday on 1800 north near 300 East just west of Gilman. 54 year old Steven Lee of Piper City was pronounced dead at the scene. The accident remains under investigation.

(Paxton-jm) – Paxton first responders were called to a single vehicle accident Sunday. They were called to the northbound lanes of I–57 near mile marker 264. 

(USDA–dm)-How might overwintering crops and livestocks be affected by the snows, winds, and bitter cold of this week's weather system crossing the Southern half of the nation? Rod Bain has the story

(Watseka-jm) – Early voting for voters in Iroquois County will begin in February. The Iroquois County Clerk's office will be open for early voting for the primary starting February 5th and going through March 16th from 8:30-4:30. There will also be early voting on Saturday, March 14th from 8:30-noon. County offices will be closed Thursday, February 12th and Monday, February 16th. Early voting at the county clerk’s office will serve all 37 precincts.

(Ogden–jc)  A rollover accident along Interstate 74 in western Vermilion county slowed traffic on Saturday morning. The accident happened near mile marker 199 near Ogden just after 7am Saturday. Traffic was rerouted to Route 150 for several hours. No injuries were reported.

(The Center Square) – Illinois lawmakers are weighing legislation that would require public schools to share all evidence used to suspend or expel a student with that student’s parents or guardians before a disciplinary hearing. Senate Bill 2876, sponsored by Sen. Terri Bryant, R-Murphysboro, addresses what she calls a growing problem of parents being denied access to evidence used in disciplining their children. Bryant said the issue came to her attention after learning that several grade school students had been suspended based on video evidence that their parents were not allowed to see.

(Mahomet–jm) – An RV in Mahomet was destroyed by fire. The Cornbelt Fire Department was called to the Tin Cup RV Park for a vehicle on fire near a structure. The person living inside the RV was not there when the fire started.

(Paxton–dm)-With the sub-freezing weather we have had the last few days, it’s possible you could have some frozen water pipes at your house. Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott has some tips to thaw those water pipes out.

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  You can hear more from Scott on Saturday mornings at 730 on Scott’s Tips for Success.

(Champaign–jm) — The Champaign Urbana Mass Transit District is receiving $850,000 to buy two parcels of land next to the Illinois terminal to help with their expansion. The parking lots will become full garages among other changes with the expansion.

(Champaign–dm)-You hear about being “over the hill” at 40. Doctors say turning 50 is an equally important health milestone. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has a checklist...for when you hit a half-century.

And as usual, moderation is key for everything you do. So if you drink or smoke, 

make a plan to cut back or quit.

(Ford County-jm) – The Illinois Sheriff’s Association along with Ford County Sheriff Chad Johnson will be awarding a $500 scholarship. The scholarship is open to any student wishing to pursue higher education during the 2026-2027 academic year. The student must be enrolled full time at a certified institution of higher learning. Applications are available at the Ford County Sheriff’s Office in Paxton. Applications are due by March 13th.

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Tuesday, January 28th at Christman Park in Rossville from 9:30-10:30 am and Ward Park in Ridge Farm from 11:30-1:30.

The Loda United Methodist Church will have a free concert with Eric Gordon and Friends on Saturday January 31st at 4pm. A potluck will follow the concert.

The Hoopeston Area FFA will hold their alumni scholarship auction on Saturday, January 31st at The Legion. Silent auction starts at 4, dinner will be served at 4:30 and the live auction begins at 6.

The St. Mary’s St. Joseph’s Knights of Columbus will hold their annual free throw contest on Sunday, February 1st at PBL High School. Doors open at noon with the competition beginning at 12:30. All kids ages 9-14 are invited to participate. More information is available by calling Trent Eshleman at 217-841-5621.

(Springfield-jm) – The Pritzker administration announced Thursday that it will reserve $482 million from the current state budget to address the impacts of President Donald Trump's policies. This comes months after Gov. JB Pritzker signed an executive order telling state agencies to find areas to trim funding. Pritzker told reporters in June that he was worried about the fiscal outlook for every state as Congress prepared to vote on the Big Beautiful Bill. The Democrat told his state agencies to conduct immediate budget reviews to identify efficiencies and reductions in September to help combat potential economic disasters coming from the White House. Over $360 million will be reserved from healthcare and human services, with the Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services noting that it doesn't need to transfer $200 million to the healthcare provider relief fund. The Illinois Department of Human Services is cutting $119 million from its budget due to reductions in operational expenses and grants. The administration is reserving $50 million from state employee health insurance funding and $30 million will not be sent to public universities and community colleges.  $22 million reserved from the state's public safety agencies is also being held.

The Center Square) – Statehouse Republicans say it is time for Illinois Democrats to focus on growing the tax base instead of raising taxes. Along with state Reps. Amy Elik, R-Alton, and Joe Sosnowski, R-Rockford, House Minority Leader Tony McCombie, R-Savanna, held a press conference at the Illinois Capitol on Wednesday. Elik said Illinois is in trouble because of poor decisions by those in power at the state level. Elik also said Democratic Party policies are driving residents to find lower taxes and greater opportunities out of state.

Illinois Rep. Amy Elik, R-Alton

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign Police Department is continuing to investigate the report of a road rage incident from Thursday morning in which a gun was allegedly flashed. Champaign Police said officers were dispatched to the intersection of Prospect Avenue and Town Center Boulevard at 9:24 a.m. following a report of a road rage incident where the reporting party alleged that a firearm was brandished in traffic. Officers then began to search for the involved vehicle, locating it at 9:43 a.m. in the 1400 block of South Dunlap Avenue in Savoy. A traffic stop was conducted. Champaign Police said the driver of this vehicle was interviewed as part of the stop and offered a conflicting account of the events that allegedly occurred. The vehicle was then searched with the driver’s consent, and no weapons were located. Additionally, no arrests have been made at this time, and this remains an ongoing investigation.

(Paxton–jc) –  City of Paxton leaders are re-working a redevelopment agreement for one downtown business in the city. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the city has a new agreement with Skaggs Properties…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Loda-jm) — E.R.H. Enterprises, Inc. has announced the Boil Order for the village of Loda is now lifted.   The order was issued Tuesday evening when the water pressure at the community water plant dropped. 

(Ford County–dm)-Bitter cold weather is taking over the WPXN listening area. With wind chill temperatures at 15 to 30 degrees below zero and actual air temperatures barely above zero A Cold weather advisory is in effect.  The Ford County EMA has some warming centers open in the county.  Ford County EMA Coordinator Terry Whitebird tells where you can go to get warm.

Ford County EMA Coordinator Terry Whitebird.  If you have questions you can call 217 -781-1898 or 815-644-1410

(Champaign–jc)  – – To show appreciation and lift the spirits of local seniors, 52nd district State Senator Paul Faraci of Champaign is collecting cards for residents in long-term care facilities for Valentine’s Day. Faraci is encouraging residents to provide handmade or store-bought cards to help bring joy to older adults living in various senior facilities across the 52nd District. Children are also encouraged to participate. Cards can be mailed or delivered now through February 11th at Faraci’s Champaign or Danville office.

(Springfield-jm) – A bill recently introduced in the Illinois House of Representatives would establish a new program to help motorists on the autism spectrum. House Bill 4472, introduced by Representative Michelle Mussman, would establish the Blue Envelope Program under the supervision of the Secretary of State’s Office. Named after the envelopes people on the spectrum may use to hold documents required for operating a motor vehicle, the bill would amend the Secretary of State Act. Information on the envelope would include written information that identifies the holder as having been diagnosed, written guidance to assist law enforcement officers in effectively communicating with individuals they encounter and emergency contact information.

(Springfield–jc)  The Democrat lead Illinois House of Representatives approved a number of anti-Trump resolutions this week.   One of those was House Resolution 6-21 which condemns President Donald Trump's effort to freeze funds for affordable childcare.  The measure calls for the immediate release of all congressionally appropriated childcare funds. 88th District State Representative Regan Deering, Republican from Decatur voted against the measure and rose to encourage a no vote….

88th District State Representative Regan Deering, Republican from Decatur

(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston man is facing child sex crime charges. 38 year old James Allen Junior is charged with two counts of criminal sexual assault after Hoopeston police investigated a sexual assault of a child. He was taken to the Vermilion County Jail.

(Paxton–jc)  Tax time is here and there are many changes in potential deductions for tax payers. Shaffer Tax and Accounting Owner Jeff Shaffer says one new deduction is a tax savings on a new car purchased in 20-25…

Shaffer Tax and Accounting Owner Jeff Shaffer. Electronic filing for taxes begins on Monday January 26th.

CHAMPAIGN, Ill. — The Parkland College Board of Trustees approved the naming of the Shapland Student Commons at their monthly meeting this week

The south end of the college’s Student Union will be renamed thanks to a generous One Million dollar gift to the Parkland College Foundation in honor of the late community member and business leader George T. Shapland. 

(Washington-jm) – U.S. Representative Robin Kelly of Illinois is urging Congressional Republicans to pass nationwide, year-round E-15 in a three-bill funding package. In 2024, Republicans backed out of a bipartisan deal, pulling E-15 out of the year-end funding bill. Representative Kelly is a cosponsor of the Nationwide Consumer and Fuel Retailer Choice Act, which would require year-round sales of E15. Her district covers urban, suburban, and rural areas with over 4,500 farms.

WPXN News Notes

The Gibson Area Food Pantry at the Hospital will hold a food distribution on Saturday, January 24th from 8 to noon.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve will host Raptors Up Close at the Lake of the Woods Pavilion on Saturday, January 24th from 10-11:30 am.

The Tri-Point FFA will hold their alumni auction on Saturday, January 24th in the high school gym. The silent auction and lunch will begin at 11:30 am with the live auction beginning at 1pm.

The Ford County Republicans will host a meet and greet for voters on Saturday, January 24th from 1-3 pm at Pueblo Lindo in Paxton. The event is free to attend. All four Republican gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to be there. Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heidner and James Mendrick are competing in the March 17 primary election for the chance to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker in November.

 St. Malachy’s Catholic School in Rantoul will hold their annual Joes Fried Chicken Dinner on Sunday, January 25th from 11-3 at the Rantoul Knights of Columbus. The dinner includes fried chicken, mashed potatoes, coleslaw, green beans, dinner roll and dessert. Cost is a free will donation. There will also be a 50/50 drawing at the end of the event.

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Tuesday, January 28th at Christman Park in Rossville from 9:30-10:30 am and Ward Park in Ridge Farm from 11:30-1:30.

The Loda United Methodist Church will have a free concert with Eric Gordon and Friends on Saturday January 31st at 4pm. A potluck will follow the concert.

(Rantoul-jm) – Five families have been displaced after an apartment building caught fire Wednesday afternoon in Rantoul. Firefighters from nine different departments responded to the two-story apartment building around 1 p.m. There were 16 units inside the building, and eight of the units were damaged by fire. The entire building was condemned because of the smoke, fire and water damage. The cause of the fire is under investigation, but fire officials say it appears to be cooking related. Firefighters were able to clear the scene around 4:40 p.m. Paxton, Gifford, Sangamon Valley, Thomasboro, Eastern Prairie, Savoy, Cornbelt and Urbana firefighters provided mutual aid to Rantoul. Officials say the large response was due to the cold and windy weather and the size of the building.

(Springfield–jc)  – Illinois Governor  J-B Pritzker signed the SAFE-T Act into law in February 2021. Since then, three trailer bills have been added to the law, yet criminals are still not held accountable for crimes they commit due to the elimination of cash bail. 95th District State Representative Mike Coffey, Republican from Springfield says his constituents say the Safe-T Act has made communities less safer.

(Rantoul-jm) — A man from Rantoul was given a 100-year sentence for a knife attack on a Champaign couple that left one of them dead and the other seriously hurt, but alive to eventually testify against him. Alex Muanambuta, was in Champaign County court yesterday. The judge in the case convicted Muanambuta of first-degree murder, attempted murder and aggravated battery. Muanambuta was sentenced on two of the counts — murder and attempted murder. The incident stems from an attack on  Katy Lassy and Nathan Gudeman, both 22, in their apartment on Healey Street in what prosecutors called a jealous rage. Gudeman died after fleeing the apartment.

(Paxton–jc)  Paxton officials are looking to sell a city-owned property on East Fulton Street.  Paxton council members have approved the process and bids could be opened in February says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Watseka-jm) – The Board of Directors of The First Trust and Savings Bank in Watseka is announcing the appointment of Neil Schippert as President and CEO.

Schippert brings 28 years of dedicated service to the bank and is a lifelong resident of the community. The bank directors are also pleased to share that former President Kerry Bell will continue to serve in a new capacity as Chairman of the Board. In this role, he will provide strategic guidance, continuity, and support for the leadership team of the bank.

(Gordyville–jc) The 20-26 Midwest Ag Expo has over 175 exhibitors presenting everything agriculture at Gordyville U S A . Double Y sales and service of Cissna Park has a huge display for Toro mowers and more with expo sales pricing says Double Y Sales and service Owner Tom Yergler…

Double Y Sales and Service of Cissna Park Owner Tom Yergler. Day two of the Midwest Ag Expo at Gordyville US A runs from 8-30am to 3pm on Thursday.

(Washington–jc)  )  – Illinois U.S. Rep. Mary Miller, R-Oakland, has introduced legislation to restrict large institutional investment firms from buying single-family homes. Following an executive order from President Donald Trump, the American Family Housing Act applies to companies with more than $100 billion in assets under management. Miller says the legislation will put an end to Wall Street firms driving up prices and pushing American families out of the housing market.

(Springfield–jc)  –The State of Illinois is again calling on the United States Congress and the Trump administration to require year-round sales of E-15 fuel. Agriculture is the number one industry in Illinois.  Under current law, E-15 access during the summer driving season has relied on temporary emergency waivers. These stopgap measures provide only brief relief and fall short of a stable, long-term solution.  Illinois is the second largest producer of corn in the nation. With corn production at record highs,more use of E-15 fuel would help farmers around the country.

(Washington–jc)  In the second of a series on  the outlook for beef production and prices, World Outlook Chairman Mark Jekanowski looks at trends for 20-26…

World Outlook Chairman Mark Jekanowski

(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Fire Department responded to a house fire that was quickly extinguished. The department got called to the 900 block of N Gregory Street at approximately 2:45 p.m. on Wednesday. Crews arriving on scene saw light smoke showing and discovered a small fire inside the house. Units quickly got into the house and got the fire under control and extinguished in approximately 10 minutes. Urbana Fire crews are currently investigating the fire. Nobody was injured during this incident.

(Champaign–jm) – A Champaign teenager was arrested following reports of a stolen vehicle Wednesday morning.Champaign police say they were dispatched to the 100 block of Buena Vista Drive just after 8am Wednesday for a report of a stolen vehicle. Upon investigation, officers spotted a vehicle of the same description driving recklessly near Kirby Avenue and Duncan Road. The vehicle was seen passing traffic in the oncoming lane at a high rate of speed. The vehicle then crashed near Southwood Drive. The driver left the scene on foot, but was arrested in a nearby yard. 18-year-old Anaryon Smith-Jones of Champaign was arrested. Smith-Jones now faces initial charges including possession of a stolen vehicle, aggravated fleeing and eluding and driving without a license. No injuries were reported during this incident.

(St Joseph–jc)  The Saint Joe Ogden F F A Chapter is hosting its annual chapter fundraiser in early February. St Joe Ogden F F A Chapter President Delaney Nekolny says the event is set for Saturday February 7th…

St Joe Ogden F F A Chapter President Delaney Nekolny. Doors open at 4-30 that afternoon with a dinner and silent auction at 5pm and a live auction at 6pm

(Champaign-jm) — The site of a former Champaign church will soon be home to new student housing at the University of Illinois. The 238-unit building will be at the corner of Wright and Stoughton Streets in Champaign at the site of the former University Place Christian Church, which was recently demolished. Developers said there will be enough space for 371 beds. And will have amenities like an outdoor terrace, fitness center and sky lounge. They said students should be able to move in by August, 2027.

(Gifford–jc) Gordyville U S A is the venue again for this year’s Midwest Ag Expo near Gifford. One exhibitor is the Gifford State Bank. Vice President of Ag and Commercial Loans Andy Buhr says the bank has its roots in East Central illinois…

Gifford State Bank Vice President of Ag and Commercial Loans Andy Buhr. The 20-26 Midwest Ag Expo runs today at Gordyville U S A near Gifford from 8-30am to 3pm

(Chicago–jc)  –Chicago’s O’Hare International Airport is the busiest airfield in the United States, according to preliminary data from the Federal Aviation Administration. In all, just over 857-thousand aircraft landed or took off from O’Hare in 2025. Chicago Midway ranked 38th in the nation for takeoffs and landings. Final global rankings and full passenger figures for 2025 are still pending.

WPXN News notes…

Euchre will be held at the former Federated Church in Paxton every Thursday from 1-3 pm.

Its day 2 of the 2026 Midwest Ag Expo at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours today are 8:30am to 3pm

The Elliott Amvets will hold their pork chop sandwich supper on Friday, January 23rd from 5–7 pm. Cost is $8. They will also host their Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Saturday, January 24th from noon–2 pm. Cost is $15.

The Gibson Area Food Pantry at the Hospital will hold a food distribution on Saturday, January 24th from 8 to noon.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve will host Raptors Up Close at the Lake of the Woods Pavilion on Saturday, January 24th from 10-11:30 am.

(Washington-jm) – In his final year in office. Illinois Senator Dick Durbin will try once again to pass his Credit Card Competition Act bill. The bill will help small businesses by creating more competition in the credit card industry and bringing down swipe fees. Swipe fees are added to purchases by the major credit card companies. Small businesses must absorb the cost or pass it on to consumers. The fees generally amount to 3-4% of the total bill.

(Kankakee-jm) – The Illinois Department of Public health officials has confirmed a case of Legionnaires’ disease at the state-run Shapiro Developmental Center in Kankakee. Capitol News Illinois learned of the case and it was confirmed Tuesday. In a joint statement from IDPH and the Illinois Department of Human Services, the agencies confirmed a single case at Shapiro Center — home to adults with intellectual or developmental disabilities. 

(Springfield–jc) A new energy law passed by the majority democrats in Springfield and signed into law by Illinois Governor J B Pritzker continues to receive push back by Republicans across the state. 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet, says the new law takes away “local” control…

51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, Republican from Mahomet.

(Urbana-jm) – The 19-year-old who was arrested for a deadly shooting in Urbana pleaded not guilty to the charges he is facing on Tuesday. 19-year-old Charles Lake appeared in court for arraignment, facing charges of first-degree murder, aggravated unlawful use of a weapon and aggravated battery. Lake requested a trial by jury. 

(Champaign-jm) — Authorities in Champaign are asking for the public's assistance in identifying a female suspect involved in a retail theft at Walmart on December 21. Around 11 p.m., the woman entered the store on North Prospect Ave. and left with a cart full of unpaid merchandise, including expensive steaks, clothing, and household items. The stolen goods are valued at over $600. The suspect, described as a medium build white female with a linear birthmark or scar on her face, was last seen wearing a brown hat, brown Carhartt coat, black leggings, and brown boots. She fled in a dark gray or black Jeep with two male accomplices.

(Paxton–jc)  A city of Paxton owned property at 404 South Market is being sold through a realtor. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the city went through a proper process and the next step is listing with a realtor…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

Springfield, Ill- Illinois Governor JB Pritzker has proclaimed Monday, January 19,  through Sunday, January 25th, , as Community Risk Reduction Week in Illinois. C-R-R is a data-driven process to identify and prioritize local risks, followed by the integrated and strategic investment of resources (emergency response and prevention) to reduce their occurrence and impact.  According to c-r-r-week-dot-org, every 23 seconds, a fire department in the United States responds to a fire somewhere in the nation. In 2024, 75% of all fire deaths occurred in the home and home fires were responsible for 8,920 civilian injuries, with multibillion dollars in property damage. EMS calls continue to be around 70% of the reason for response from fire departments across Illinois, and nationally the fire service responds to a growing number of medical calls for service, surpassing 90% of total call volume in some communities.

(Urbana-jm) – Common Ground Food Co-Op is a food cooperative owned by more than 14,000 households in the community. By investing $60, you can become a part-owner of Common Ground. As an owner, new opportunities include 10% off groceries, extra discounts on specially discounted items, the ability to run and vote for the executive board and the ability to nominate non-profits for the Co-Op to fund. However, you do not need to be an owner to shop there. The Co-Op is focused on supporting local farmers while providing fresh, locally-grown food to customers.

(Watseka–jc)  There is less than a month to register or change registration to vote in the March Illinois Primary. WPXN”s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Springfield-jm) – A new Illinois law will increase opportunities to inform parents about the state's early intervention program. Sponsors say the law will ensure NICU babies have early access to these critical services. The Illinois Department of Human Services' early intervention program helps children with disabilities or developmental delays up to age three learn and grow. Youth in the program are evaluated for movement, learning and behavior among other areas, but many families are unaware they are eligible for these services. The new law states hospitals must sign a letter referring babies to early intervention services if the child is born weighing less than 2.2 pounds. The state currently runs a public awareness program focused on early identification of eligible infants and toddlers. However, this law expands the scope of the program to include infants who automatically qualify for early intervention services.

(Springfield-jm) – This past fall the controversial SAFE-T Act was once again thrust back into the spotlight after a man set a woman on fire on a Chicago train. The man behind that attack had 70 prior arrests. Republicans have pointed to it as an example of why the law needs to go. But Democrat leaders maintain the SAFE-T Act works. Illinois House Speaker Emanuel ‘Chris’ Welch pointed to falling crime rates in Chicago, in particular the city seeing its lowest number of murders since 1965, as a sign the SAFE-T Act works. Chicago has also seen numbers of other violent crimes like shootings and robberies drop in recent years. But in McHenry County up north, officials conducted their own study on the SAFE-T Act. That study found there was a 30% increase in crime and a 280% increase in failure to appear rates after implementing the SAFE-T Act. Now, a new bill is looking to adjust the SAFE-T Act and widen the net for judges when it comes to detaining suspects. Under HB4275, all felonies, not just violent ones, would be eligible for pre-trial detainment.

(Washington–jc)  What is the outlook for beef production and prices? World Outlook Chairman Mark Jekanowski says some production will be trending upward and prices are also headed upward…

World Outlook Chairman Mark Jekanowski

(Melvin-jm) — Steve Meenen, Melvin, was re-elected president of the Ford County Fair board at their annual meeting. Other officers re-elected include Dallas Meyer, Thawville, vice-president; Mitchell Meenen, Melvin, secretary; and Theresa Rueck, Roberts, treasurer. Re-elected to the board were Steve Meenen, Dallas Meyer, Micah Luebchow, Paxton and Wade Rueck, Roberts. Brynn Boundy, Melvin, was re-elected for a one-year term as a junior director. Additional board members include Seth McCall, Gibson City; Kirk Miller, Spencer Meenen and Tim Muehlenpfort, Melvin; Ian Holben, Paxton; and Dave Kaeding, Loda. The board continued to finalize plans for this year’s cash bash, Saturday, March 7 at the Roberts Gym. Tickets can be purchased from any of the board members. This year’s fair is scheduled for June 13-20. The annual concert will kick off the first day of fair events this year with the headliner to be announced on February 10.

(Vermilion County-jm) — The Vermilion County Farm Bureau is hosting an Estate Tax Planning session on Tuesday, February 10th. It will begin at 6:00 pm in the Farm Bureau Auditorium, 1905-C US Route 150, Danville. Guests presenters are Maggie Wienke, a Certified Financial Planner with COUNTRY Financial, and Russ Leigh, owner of Russell Leigh & Associates accounting firm. They will discuss various factors that determine the estate value, methods for protecting an estate, and reviewing financial and tax implications associated with estate planning. Currently, the estate tax limit in Illinois is $4 million, with the tax computed on the entire value of the estate if you exceed that threshold. Illinois Farm Bureau has worked to pass the Family Farm Preservation Act the last two years, which would raise the estate tax exemption to $6 million, and have it be a true threshold, with only the amount over the limit being taxed. 

(Gordyville–jc)  The venue is the Midwest Ag Expo at Gordyville USA near Gifford. The two day event begins at 8-30 on today and Thursday.  It’s free to attend and free parking too. Also the help kick off the event is a free Pancake breakfast says Midwest Ag Expo, Director of Shows, Jami Applegate…

Midwest Ag Expo Director of Shows Jami Applegate. The free breakfast runs from 8am to 10-30am in the concession area north of the show floor.

(Champaign–jc)  A school building in Urbana was struck by gunfire Tuesday morning just before 10.  The incident occurred at Booker T. Washington STEAM Academy, in  Urbana. The school was placed on lockdown. Urbana police said additional patrols around the school were present. Urbana, Champaign and University police were on the scene.

(The Center Square) – No injuries have been reported after the U.S. Geological Survey reported a magnitude 3.8 earthquake near the Montgomery County town of Ohlman,  on Tuesday morning. In updating our story from yesterday, people reported feeling the quake in St. Louis, Springfield and other cities in central and southern Illinois. There were no immediate reports of damage.

WPXN News notes…

The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo will take place Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours 8:30-4 on the 21st and 8:30-3 on the 22nd.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their porkchop sandwich supper on Friday, January 23rd from 5–7 pm. Cost is $8. They will also host their Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Saturday, January 24th from noon–2 pm. Cost is $15.

The Gibson Area Food Pantry at the Hospital will hold a food distribution on Saturday, January 24th from 8 to noon.

The Tri-Point FFA will hold their alumni auction on Saturday, January 24th in the high school gym. The silent auction and lunch will begin at 11:30 am with the live auction beginning at 1pm.

The Ford County Republicans will host a meet and greet for voters on Saturday, January 24th from 1-3 pm at Pueblo Lindo in Paxton. The event is free to attend.

(Springfield-jm) – An update to Illinois’ Scott’s Law went into effect January 1, expanding protections for people working on the side of the road and aiming to prevent deadly crashes caused by drivers who fail to slow down or move over. According to the Illinois State Police, there were 14 Scott’s Law violations statewide in 2025. Just three weeks into 2026, troopers have already recorded two more. One of the biggest changes requires drivers to slow down and move over not only for stopped emergency vehicles, but also for moving vehicles with flashing lights. The update also extends protections to people working outside their vehicles at roadside scenes. Violating Scott’s Law can result in a $250 fine for a first offense and $750 for a second. If a violation results in hitting a vehicle, it can lead to up to one year in jail. If a person is struck, penalties increase to one to three years behind bars.

(Paxton–jc)  The North Market Street project in the city of Paxton is moving forward with the initial steps of engineering and study. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the city netted a 1 point 2 million dollar investment from the state, and the city will also put in a portion of the money for the project…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold. The project will start later this year and finish in 20-27.

(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Police Department says a suspect is now in custody in connection with the deadly shooting of a Champaign man. 19-year-old Charles Lake was arrested in the 1900 block of Blackthorn Drive in Champaign. Urbana Police say the arrest was a result of the ongoing investigation into the fatal shooting of  Benancio Crowley in the 1200 block of Ellis Drive in Urbana early Friday morning. The shooting is still under investigation.

(Springfield–dm)-State Legislators were recently in session and the democratic majority passed Senate bill 25 which removes rate caps on your electric bill.  53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema R-Chanahon explains.

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema R. Chanahon

(Peoria-jm) – OSF HealthCare appointed Sister M. Mikela Meidl to be its next president, the organization announced Monday. Mikela has almost 40 years of experience in the healthcare field and joined OSF HealthCare in 2014. She has served on the OSF HealthCare System Board and is currently the executive vice president and chief ministry officer. OSF said that as president, Mikela will be the strategic partner to incoming CEO Michelle Conger, and will guide executive priorities and serve as a key contact to the Governing Board, Catholic Church and Mission Partners.
 

(Springfield–jc) Should former ICE agents work in law enforcement in the state of Illinois. One Democratic State Senator and congressional candidate says yes, but others in the public safety side say no. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Rantoul–dm)-If you are looking for a summer job the AQuatic Center and the Rantoul Sports Complex are taking applications.  Recreation Specialist for the Village of Rantoul Phoenix LaComb has all of the information you need.

Recreation Specialist for the Village of Rantoul Phoenix LaComb

(Gibson City–jc)  Gibson City leaders will host a meeting in early February. The meeting is with the Greater Gibson City Area Economic Alliance group and the Gibson City Planning Commission. It is a discussion only meeting with the main subject of future housing options in Gibson City. There is a public comment period set for a portion of the meeting. The meeting takes place February 2nd at 4-30pm at the Gibson City, city hall chambers.

(Springfield-jm) – The Illinois Senate has been in session for a week and now it's time for the House to return to the state capitol. Members of the House of Representatives are due to start their session today. Among issues lawmakers will be dealing with this spring is the state budget and the state’s underfunded pension liabilities, while also dealing with affordability issues.

(USDA–dm)-USDA recently issued its first projections this year for meat production and prices, but what were among the findings?  Rod Bain has more.

(Rantoul-jm) – A mobile home in Champaign County was destroyed after it caught fire over the weekend. The fire happened at the Fountain Valley Mobile Home Park, south of Rantoul No injuries were reported. Thomasboro fire fighters were called to the fire and the cause of the fire remains, unknown, though officials say it could have been a faulty electric system

(Gordyville–dm)-The 31st annual Midwest Ag Expo is going on this Wednesday and Thursday at Gordyville USA. Director of Farm Shows Jamie Applegate tells us about a tradition that is coming back.

Director of Farm Shows Jamie Applegate.  The Ag Expo is open 8:30-4:00 on Wednesday the 21st  and 8:30-3:00 on Thursday January 22nd

(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston man is facing theft charges. Hoopeston police arrested 39 year old Kevin Lambert over the weekend in the 100 block of East Orange Street after receiving a report of a theft. Lambert is charged with theft under $500.

(Paxton–jc)  A free to attend meet the candidates forum is set for Saturday in Ford County. State gubernatorial candidates and those running for the republican spots for U S Senator in the state of Illinois will also be in attendance. State senate and State House candidates will also be in attendance. Ford County Republican Party spokesperson former State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says you are invited …

Ford County Republican Party Spokesperson Tom Bennett of Gibson City. Saturdays meet the slate of candidates event is set from 1pm to 3pm at the Pueblo Lindo Event center in Paxton

(Watseka–jc)  –Iroquois Memorial Hospital, based in Watseka,  has announced that Doctor Catalino M. Bautista,  has joined its medical staff, bringing decades of experience in family medicine, pathology and academic research to the community.

Dr. Bautista is a family physician with a distinctive dual background in medicine and biochemistry. He earned his Doctor of Medicine degree at the University in the Philippines and  completed a P-H-. in biochemistry at Loma Linda University in California. He also has a  cytopathology fellowship at Northwestern University.

WPXN News notes…

Euchre will be held at the former Federated Church in Paxton every Thursday from 1-3 pm.

The Champaign County Farm Bureau will host a series called Farm Sheets. Session 1: Marketing Beyond the Scale Ticket will take place tonight starting at 6:30 pm in the farm bureau auditorium. Dinner will be provided.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their porkchop sandwich supper on Friday, January 23rd from 5–7 pm. Cost is $8. They will also host their Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Saturday, January 24th from noon–2 pm. Cost is $15.

The Gibson Area Food Pantry at the Hospital will hold a food distribution on Saturday, January 24th from 8 to noon.

The Center Square) – All four Republican gubernatorial candidates are scheduled to participate in a forum in East Dundee today. Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, Rick Heidner and James Mendrick are competing in the March 17 primary election for the chance to challenge Gov. J.B. Pritzker in November. The event is scheduled from 5-8:30 p.m. and will be streamed online by Blue Room Stream.  The full slate of Republican candidates will be in Ford County in Paxton on Saturday.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois Secretary of State Alexi Giannoulias is warning Illinoisans to lookout for text message scams claiming to be from the “Illinois State Department of Motor Vehicles.” The messages threaten to suspend vehicle registration and driving privileges. The Illinois Secretary of State’s office never sends text messages requesting personal or financial information. 

(The Center Square) – Illinois Senate Republicans say Gov. J.B. Pritzker is wrong to blame President Donald Trump for high electric bills. Pritzker spoke Wednesday at the ribbon cutting for an electric vehicle charging site in Pontiac and said  Trump administration policies have raised electricity prices. State Sen. Chapin Rose, R-Mahomet, spoke during a press conference Wednesday at the Illinois Capitol and said it was Pritzker who signed energy legislation that increases rates and lifts price caps.

State Senator Chapin Rose R-Mahomet

(Urbana-jm) —  A Champaign County Sheriff’s K9 officer was involved in a crash Friday night in Urbana. Police say the crash happened just before 9pm along University Avenue. Investigators say a marked sheriff’s K9 squad vehicle was traveling westbound when a black Mini Cooper, traveling eastbound, suddenly made a left turn northbound in front of the squad car. The driver and front-seat passenger of the Mini Cooper were taken to a hospital for treatment. The driver of the Mini Cooper was identified as 29-year-old Gretchen Raila of Champaign. She was cited for aggravated driving under the influence, operating an uninsured motor vehicle, and failure to yield while making a left turn. The officer and K9 were not injured.

(Mahomet-jm) – A Champaign County man is accused of multiple child sex crimes after he allegedly used a social media app to communicate with at least 58 minors, in which detectives said he both sent nude photos and solicited them. The investigation started in October 2025, according to the Champaign County Sheriff’s Office. That month, the office’s Criminal Investigations Division received multiple CyberTip reports from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, submitted by Snapchat. Detectives identified 33-year-old Matthew Morin of Mahomet as the suspect. Morin is facing charges of Sexual exploitation of a child, Possession of child pornography and Grooming.

(Gordyville–dm)-The 31st annual Midwest Ag Expo is running this Wednesday and Thursday January 21st and 22nd at Gordyville.  Besides the return of the pancake breakfast on Wednesday morning, they have a new virtual tractor you can try out.  Show Manager Jami Applegate tells us more. 

Show Manager Jamie Applegate

(Champaign-jm) – The family of a former University of Illinois basketball player George Shapland is donating $1 million in support of U of I Athletics. In recognition of the donation and the family's impact, State Farm Center's east circle will be named "George Shapland Family Drive."

(Springfield–jc)  The 2026 Miss Illinois State Fair Queen is from Effingham County. She is Krista Phillips.  74 young ladies competed in the pageant over the weekend in Springfield. Riley McDermott of Monroe County was runner up.  Bella Evans of Morgan County,  Ruby Mulvaney of Ogle County and Laney Yor of White County were in the top five.

(Springfield-jm) – Unemployment rates are up in a majority of metro areas for November. Locally, Champaign Counties rose from 3.5 percent to 4.2 percent. Ford Counties rose from 3.4 percent to 4.1 percent. Vermilion Counties rose from 5.6 percent to 5.8 percent. Iroquois Counties rose from 4 percent to 4.9 percent.

(Illinois–jc)  –Justice Elizabeth M. Rochford and the Illinois Supreme Court have announced the appointment of Julia Ann Yetter as a circuit judge in Kane County.Yetter has served as an associate judge in the 16th circuit since 2018. She was also chairperson for the Kane County SAFE-T Act Task Force. Yetter was appointed to replace Judge Kevin T. Busch, who is retiring this month.

(Springfield–jc)  More reaction on the new energy bill passed by the Democrats majority in Springfield. Illinois Governor J B Pritzker signed the measure into law last week. 58th District State Senator Terri Bryant, Republican from Murphysboro says the new law is not an energy plan that will save money for households in Illinois…

58th District State Senator Terri Bryant, Republican from Murphysboro.

(Rantoul-jm) – A Rantoul man was sentenced to four decades behind bars for predatory criminal sexual assault. 39 year old Joshua Nibbe was sentenced on two counts of this crime. He was convicted in July following a two-day trial. The investigation showed thatNibbe sexually abused a child starting when they were 10 years old in late 2021 and early 2022  in Rantoul. Nibbe is required to serve 85 percent of the sentence. Nibbe will also be required to register as a sex offender for the rest of his life.

(USDA–dm)-: The numbers are in for final production tallies of various crops from last year - several with record or near record numbers in categories. Rod Bain has the story

(Champaign-jm) – The Champaign City Council is taking a closer look at the city’s housing shortage. The city partnered with RDG Planning and Design to better understand what’s driving housing demand and what may need to change. The study found Champaign’s housing market is extremely tight. RDG estimates the city will need to build more than 7,000 housing units by 2035 just to keep up with demand, with most of that need focused on non-student housing. The report also highlighted a growing need for affordable and supportive housing.

(Melvin–jc)  The Ford County Fair Board is set for 2026. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

WPXN News notes…

Euchre will be held at the former Federated Church in Paxton every Thursday from 1-3 pm.

The Champaign County Farm Bureau will host a series called Farm Sheets. Session 1: Marketing Beyond the Scale Ticket will take place on Tuesday, January 20th starting at 6:30 pm in the farm bureau auditorium. Dinner will be provided.

The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo will take place Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours 8:30-4 on the 21st and 8:30-3 on the 22nd.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their porkchop sandwich supper on Friday, January 23rd from 5–7 pm. Cost is $8. They will also host their Rocky Mountain Oyster Fry on Saturday, January 24th from noon–2 pm. Cost is $15.

The Gibson Area Food Pantry at the Hospital will hold a food distribution on Saturday, January 24th from 8 to noon.

(Springfield-jm) – Almost $6 million in mental health funding for Illinois that was cut by the Trump administration earlier this week was reversed. The cuts were set to take place effective immediately. The Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration canceled over 2,000 grants totaling roughly $2 billion in funding nationwide on Tuesday.  Grants that were set to be affected included Strategic Prevention Framework – Partnerships for Success for States, Illinois Prevent Prescription Drug/Opioid Overdose-Related Deaths, Garret Lee Smith Youth Suicide Prevention and Intervention Grant, Project AWARE and REACH Out.  The reason behind the reversal is unclear.

(The Center Square) – An Illinois legislator is raising concerns about state taxpayer funds going to an organization he says is actively working to impede federal law enforcement. Public records through the Illinois Comptroller’s website show Centro de Trabajadores Unidos, or the United Workers Center, received more than $3.6 million from the state of Illinois since 2015, most of that coming since 2023. 

Illinois State Representative. Adam Niemerg, Republican from Dieterich, has a problem with the funding.

102nd District State Representative. Adam Niemerg Republican from Dieterich

(Iroquois County-jm) – The Iroquois County Board has a new Vice-Chairman. Jamie Bakken steps into the position, voted in to succeed the late-Scott Watts who passed away in December. Bakken is in her first term on the Board and has served as Chairman of the Management committee. She’s also a member of the Tri-County Rural Transportation committee, working on finding a solution to the ceased-CRIS Rural Mass Transit District operation.  Jamie also follows in the footsteps of her grandmother, Harriet Mowrey, who also served the County Board, as a 2008 Vice-Chairman and on the Management committee.

(Gordyville–-dm)-The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo takes place this coming Wednesday and Thursday January 21st and 22nd at Gordyville. Director of Farm Shows Jami Applegate says the number of exhibitors has grown.

Director of Farm Shows Jami Applegate

(Rankin-jm) - A Rankin woman is facing drug charges in Livingston County. Tierra Kelly was arrested by the Vermilion County Metropolitan Enforcement Group and Livingston County Pro-Active Unit on charges of delivery and manufacturing meth. According to the Livingston County Sheriff’s office 112 ggrams of meth were seized by deputies linked to Kelly.

(Illinois–jc)-Illinois Election advocates have some concerns about Illinois’s mail-in ballot program.  WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story.

(Illinois–dm)-The Illinois Department on Aging has released a plan to address the needs of older adults and caregivers. “EngAging Illinois: A Comprehensive Plan for Living Well” was established by Gov. J.B. Pritzker’s executive order in 2024 and involved 15 state agencies and a 25-member advisory council. State officials say Illinois' over-65 population is projected to grow 40% by 2035.

(Paxton–jc)  The State of Illinois County Fair Convention is this weekend in Springfield. One of the events is the state fair queen pageant at the Crown Plaza Hotel in Springfield. Current Ford County Fair Queen Charley Ulrich says she will be busy with an interview today and the pageant tomorrow…

Current Ford County Fair Queen Charley Ulrich of Paxton

(Undated-jm) – Verizon is offering to reimburse customers who were affected by the nationwide outage Wednesday. The New York-based carrier didn't specify what caused Wednesday's disruptions, but confirmed that the outage was resolved by 9:20 p.m. Verizon previously said it had deployed its engineering teams to address “an issue impacting wireless voice and data services.” The outage lasted more than ten hours. Verizon announced it will give customers a $20 account credit that can be redeemed by logging into the myVerizon app to accept.

(Springfield–jc)  More reaction into the WPXN news room concerning the new Illinois Energy law signed by Illinois Governor J B Pritzker last week. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says there are concerns about additional charges for homeowners and businesses…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Champaign-jm) – Parkland College will be hosting a countywide celebration in honor of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. this month. Sunday, January 18, the celebration will start at 5 pm at the Krannert Center for the Performing Arts in Urbana. Illinois State Representative Carol Ammons will serve as keynote speaker. Three community members will be honored with awards in recognition of their work to uphold the principles and ideals of Dr. King. The award recipients include:

• Dr. Jeffery Trask – James R. Burgess, Jr./Susan Freiburg Humanitarian Award

• Dr. Stephanie Cockrell – Doris Hoskins Prestigious Community Service Award

• Martel Miller – Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. Outstanding Achievement Award

Doors open at 4 pm and the community choir begins 4:30 p.m. This event is free and open to the public.

(Paxton–jc)  –  The city of Paxton will see a street project move forward starting later this year. Paxton leaders have secured a 1 point 2 million dollar grant for the North Market Street road improvement project. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the city is working with the Clark Dietz Engineering firm from Champaign…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Gibson City–jc)  Gibson City leaders continue to look to renovate the bathrooms at the North Park Pavilion area in the city. Council members heard from Dean Kidd from the Gibson City Theatre group this month about closures of the bathrooms during events at North Park. Gibson City leaders have been in contact with city engineers and are working out a solution for the North Park bathrooms

(Rantoul–dm)-The Rantoul Recreation Center is having signups for their co-recreational volleyball season.  Recreation Specialist for the Village of Rantoul  Phoenix LaComb has information to get your team signed up.

Recreation Specialist for the Village of Rantoul Phoenix LaComb. Spring Youth Soccer Leagues sign-ups are going on now thru March 3rd.

(Undated–jc)  It’s time to choose an Illinois County Fair State Queen. The county fair association convention is this weekend in Springfield. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has more on area participants in the state queen pageant…

(Champaign–dm)-CHICAGO — After freezing resident undergraduate tuition rates in seven of the previous 11 years, the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois today approved a 2% tuition increase for Illinois resident undergraduate students admitted to the fall 2026 academic year. The system universities in Urbana-Champaign, Chicago and Springfield also adjusted tuition rates for nonresident undergraduate students, as well as graduate, professional and online programs. At Urbana-Champaign, nonresident and international undergraduate tuition will increase between 7% and 14.5%. At Chicago, most nonresident and international students will see increases of 2% to 3.3%. At Springfield, nonresident tuition will rise 2%. 

WPXN News notes…

The Onarga American Legion will hold their fish fry today from 4:30-7 at the Legion Hall at Durham Park. The menu includes fish, fries, baked beans, coleslaw and green beans for $12.

The Cadillac in Paxton will host Ridgeland on Friday, January 16th. The show begins at 8pm. They will also host the 1985-Totally 80’s Mixtape Live on Saturday, January 17th. Doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8. 

The Tri-Point FFA will hold their alumni auction on Saturday, January 24th in the high school gym. The silent auction and lunch will begin at 11:30 am with the live auction beginning at 1pm.

The Ford County Republicans will host a meet and greet for voters on Saturday, January 24th from 1-3 pm at Pueblo Lindo in Paxton. The event is free to attend.

(Undated-jm) – The average gas price in Illinois has dropped below $2.90 per gallon. According to Triple A, the state’s current average of $2.89 for regular unleaded is down from $2.93 one week ago and $3.06 one month ago. The per-gallon price in Illinois remains higher than the national average of $2.82 and higher than the price in every other Midwestern state. The Land of Lincoln has the second-highest gas tax in the nation.

(Springfield–jc)  –  Several area communities received some state money on Wednesday, also several Oslad grants. WPXN”s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Ford County–jc)  – Winter is here and even though the weather has been a bit balmy recently, the cold days of winter are expected to bring snow, ice and travel issues. Ford County Emergency Management Agency Director Terry Whitebird says to be prepared while on the road…

Ford County Emergency Management Agency Director Terry Whitebird

(Hoopeston-jm) — A 44-year-old Hoopeston woman is waiting for her arraignment in Vermilion County following a traffic stop.  Kristie Terrell was taken into custody after Hoopeston officers stopped her vehicle on S. Market Street.  Charges filed included possession of a controlled substance and drug materials, possession of burglary tools, DUI, resisting arrest and possession of alcohol.  Traffic charges include driving while suspended, expired registration.

(Iroquois County-jm) – The Iroquois County Board is listing two vacancies in District 4.  One vacancy is the result of the passing of Scott Watts, whose term of office extends thru November 2028.  The vacancy will be filled by appointment until November 30, 2026.  That term is to be followed with a special election this November, the 2-year term then running until November 30, 2028. Also in District 4, the December 15, 2025 resignation of Doug Geiger creates a vacancy for the term until November 30, 2026.  The County Board seat is up for election in the upcoming March 17, 2026 Primary Election. 

(Paxton–jc)  You can expect some more repairs at the city of Paxton wastewater plant this year. The aging plant received needed upgrades and repairs last year says Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(The Center Square) – Politicians around the country are backing calls to impeach Homeland Security Secretary Kristi Noem, as Congresswoman Robin Kelly, Democrat from Chicago, announced she filed articles of impeachment over alleged ICE abuses and abuses of power.  Kelly  represents Iroquois County and parts of Vermilion, Champaign, Livingston  and McLean Counties in Illinois. Her district also spreads north into South Chicago. Kelly says the impeachment of Secretary Noem is the bare minimum Congress can do to protect our communities. Kelly, speaking on the House floor, outlined three articles of impeachment against Noem, citing obstruction of Congress, violation of public trust, and self-dealing.

Kelly described federal ICE operations, including Operation Midway Blitz in Chicago, where agents reportedly conducted warrantless raids and caused significant damage to residents’ homes. The republican party supports the actions of Secretary Noem.

(The Center Square) - The U.S. Supreme Court, in a 7-2 decision, said an Illinois congressman has the right to sue the state over counting federal election ballots beyond Election Day.  U.S. Representative. Mike Bost, Republican from Murphysboro, filed a lawsuit against the state in 2022 for counting ballots postmarked on Election Day up to two weeks later. The court affirmed Bost had legal standing to sue without addressing whether states could allow mail-in ballots received after Election Day to be counted.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois environmental advocates are calling on the governor to use an unusual funding method to reduce lead exposure. Illinois has more lead pipes than anywhere in the nation, but ongoing projects to replace them are expected to take decades to complete. Advocates like the Illinois Environmental Counsel say families need help now. They want Governor Pritzker to request Medicaid to cover lead water filters. It’s part of a special program used to test new ways to deliver health care to Medicaid patients. Michigan implemented a similar waiver in 2016 in response to the water crisis in Flint. Advocates say that program was successful, and Illinois needs to follow suit.

(Springfield–jc)  –  A new law for energy  has some in Springfield predicting higher prices for businesses and families.. Illinois Governor J B Pritzker and the democrats in the majority help pass the new energy law. While the democrats in Springfield say it is cost effective, those in the Republican party  say wind and solar can not power the state’s energy needs. Reaction from 58th District State Senator Terri Bryant, Republican from Murphysboro…

58th District State Senator Terri Brant, republican from Murphysboro. Also at Wednesday’s news conference speaking out against the new law is 51st District State Senator Chapin Rose, republican from Mahomet…

51st District State Senator Chapin rose Republican from Mahomet

(Champaign-jm) – University of Illinois Campus Recreation said a study on potentially renovating the campus ice arena is complete, after students voted to keep the 95-year-old facility alive two years ago. The  experts weighed two options: renovating the building or building a new one. If the latter happens, the current arena would not get torn down, but instead used for another purpose. If the university chooses to renovate, locker rooms and a party room would likely be added to the first floor. He noted window and roof repairs are also needed. Repairing the facility would temporarily shut down the rink. A newly constructed ice arena, however, could include two ice rinks. It’s not known when a decision might be made but, once university facilities approve the options, campus recreation will get cost estimates and begin deciding.

(Washington–jc)  What does the  U. S Soybean supply and demand report look like for January. World Agricultural Outlook Board Chair Mark Jekanowski has the numbers…

World Agriculture Outlook Board Chairman Mark Jekanowski

(Springfield–jc)  – The Illinois State Police say they recovered 243 stolen or hijacked vehicles, made 24 arrests and seized five firearms from October through December. State Police target vehicle theft, hijacking, and related crimes using grant funding from the Illinois Secretary of State Illinois Vehicle Hijacking and Motor Vehicle Theft Prevention and Insurance Verification Council.State police were awarded a 10 million grant for the first fiscal year, another over 600 thousand dollars each year for the past two year..

(Paxton–jc)  The 20-26 Miss Illinois Fair Queen Pageant is this weekend in Springfield. One of the participants is current Miss Ford County Fair Queen Charly Ulrich of Paxton. Ulrich says she has had a lot of help preparing for the competition…

Miss Ford County Fair Queen Charly Ulrich of Paxton

(Chicago–jc)  –The National Federation ofIndependent Business says the small business Optimism Index rose slightly in December The Uncertainty Index dropped 7 points to 84, the lowest reading since June 2024. Federation SpokespersonNoah Finley says, with federal small business tax cuts locked in, Main Street is starting the year on a more optimistic note.They were thanking the federal government

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Thursday, January 15th from 1:30-2:30 pm in the parking lot across from the Milford post office.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, January 15th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Dinner includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

The Cadillac in Paxton will host Ridgeland on Friday, January 16th. The show begins at 8pm. They will also host the 1985-Totally 80’s Mixtape Live on Saturday, January 17th. Doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8. 

The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo will take place Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours 8:30-4 on the 21st and 8:30-3 on the 22nd.

(Springfield-jm) — Governor JB Pritzker is defending the Pretrial Fairness Act following renewed criticism from law enforcement across the state. The Democrat told reporters at an unrelated event Tuesday that the Illinois crime rate has gone down significantly since the criminal justice reform took effect. Pritzker said he also believes Illinois is doing a better job of justly holding violent criminals in jail instead of forcing people who can't afford bail to sit behind bars. Still, Pritzker said he is open to suggestions for changes to the SAFE-T Act. Multiple Republicans have filed bills to repeal the law over the past two years. However, GOP lawmakers with law enforcement experience have introduced plans to require anyone charged with domestic violence or sex offenses be detained. The Illinois Senate started the 2026 session yesterday while state representatives will report to Springfield for their first day of session January 20th.

(Washington–jc)  elections for Farm Service Agency county committee members continue through February 2nd. Farm Service Agency Administrator Bill Beam explains some of the ways those local members serve producers in their area, and their communities..

Farm Service Agency Administrator Bill Beam

(Undated-jm) – Several Illinois roads were named among the nation’s deadliest. I-55 and I–57 were the top roads in the state to have the highest number of fatal accidents averaging over 100 fatalities each every year. Also making the list include I-74 and Route 45.

(Champaign County-jm) — There’s a change coming to the leadership at the Champaign Urbana Public Health Department. Administrator Julie Pryde is retiring after 30 years. 

(Paxton–jc) The Ford County Republican party is hosting a free get to know the candidates event in Paxton on Saturday January 24th. Gubernatorial candidates, U S Senate candidates along with State Senator and representative candidates will be in attendance. Former 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett of Gibson City says the event at the Pueblo Lindo Restaurant is one of information and vision…

Former 53rd District State Senator Tom Bennett, Republican from Gibson City.  The free meet the candidates event takes place 1pm to 3pm January 24th at the Pueblo Lindo Restaurant in Paxton. 

(Normal–jc) Illinois Governor  J-B Pritzker along with officials and students at Illinois State University, broke ground on the Wonsook Kim College of Fine Arts  Transformation Project. This multi-year, 87 million dollar state investment, made possible through Rebuild Illinois, will expand ISU’s fine arts complex to offer academic, instructional, and performance spaces through phased renovation, demolition, and new construction work. The project has three new building additions and multiple renovations. New construction includes a wood shop and  glass-blowing space, a commons building for dance and performance and center for Performing Arts

(St Joseph–jc)  –Illinois State Treasurer Michael Frerichs’ staff will be at the Saint Joseph Township- Swearingen Memorial Library on Tuesday, April 7th to help reunite citizens with missing money property through the I-Cash program.

In Champaign County, an estimated 353,026 people and or  businesses have unclaimed cash or property held by the treasurer’s office. The value exceeds 52, million dollars in Champaign County, alone. Statewide, Frerichs has secured more than $5 billion in unclaimed cash and property.

(Illinois–jc)  As America turns 250 years old, eagle watching in the state has become popular. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Pontiac–jc) Another electronic vehicle charging spot is being dedicated today. Illinois Governor J B Pritzker will be at Wally’s in Pontiac for the ribbon cutting ceremony. The event is set for 3 today in Pontiac.

(Springfield-jm) — Illinois lawmakers could pass a bill this spring to ban rental junk fees and require transparency for leases. Democrats say renters shouldn't be surprised by charges included in their rent, such as fees for after-hours service requests, renewing a lease or routine maintenance. The legislation states all non-optional fees should be explicitly disclosed on the first page of a lease agreement. Sponsors stress tenants would not be liable to pay fees if they are not shown on the first page of the lease. Republicans said the bill comes from a good place, but they argue it could have unintended consequences. House Bill 3564 passed out of the Senate on a 39-16 vote in late October, but the House did not vote on the legislation before the end of the veto session.

(Urbana–jc)  It’s flu season and there have been recent up-ticks in the number of flu cases in the area, especially in Champaign County. Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamadou Townkara says to know the signs for coming down with influenza…

Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamadou Townkara.

(Paxton-jm) – A No Kings rally in Paxton scheduled for January 24th is moving locations. The original plan was for the rally to take place near the Pueblo Lindo event center where the Ford County GOP will hold a meet and greet with party candidates. The rally will now take place in downtown Paxton at the intersection of Pells and Market.

(Buckley–jc)  There is a new restaurant in the village of Buckley. Heather’s Kitchen is located along route 45 in the village and the business opened on Monday. Owner Heather Dinkins says she has been cooking since her teens and has lived in Buckley for 20 years…

Heather’s Kitchen of Buckley Owner Heather Dinkins. The business opens at 5am and runs until 2pm Mondays through Fridays in Buckley. 

(Urbana–jc)  – The Fighting Illini turned to Daktronics  of Brookings, South Dakota, to design, manufacture and install the largest main video display in college football, totaling over 17 thousand 300  square feet. The project includes 16 LED displays that combine nearly 27 thousand square feet and 30 million pixels at Gies Memorial Stadium on campus at the University of Illinois in Champaign. The project will be completed ahead of the 2026 college football season.University of Illinois Director of Athletics Josh Whitman says the university is making the investment for continue to enhance the experiences  for fans, students, athletes and others at the University of Illinois

(Illinois–jc)  January 15th is the deadline to apply for the National FFA Scholarship  program. There is  2 and one half million dollars in scholarship funding. Those interested are asked to contact their high school F F A Advisor.

(Joliet–jc)  Illinois Governor J B Pritzker signed a new energy measure into law last week. It includes investment in new energy sources and also battery storage. Reaction from 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(The Center Square) – The former chief grant accountability officer for the Illinois Department of Public Health is being held accountable for working a private job on the taxpayer dime. The Illinois Office of Executive Inspector General’s latest newsletter highlights the case against the departments Chief Accountability Officer Vena Nelson failing to disclose outside employment and conducting that employment while working for the state. Both Nelson and her supervisor were terminated before the investigation concluded.

(Illinois–jc)  –The Illinois Teachers’ Retirement System’s unfunded ratio is decreasing.The latest Illinois Auditor General report for TRS released Tuesday shows a total liability of $162 billion, with $77.3 billion on hand. That makes the funding ratio 47.7%, which is up from 45.5% the previous year.

Also released Tuesday was the audit for the State University Retirement System, which is 45.5% funded.

(The Center Square) – Illinois Governor. J.B. Pritzker says the state will not build a stadium for the Chicago Bears. Pritzker spoke to reporters at Illinois State University in Normal on Tuesday and said building a stadium is about what’s best for the taxpayers. Pritzker reiterated he is open to state funding of infrastructure for a Bears stadium and said there have been ongoing conversations.

The governor suggested local governments could work on property tax relief the team has been seeking. Bears President and CEO Kevin Warren announced last month that the N-F-L team had expanded its search for a new stadium site to include Northwest Indiana. Former Illinois state Representative. Mark Batinick said Indiana officials could use their state’s tax structure to attract the Bears.

WPXN news notes…

The Champaign County Farm Bureau will host a series called Farm Sheets. Session 1: Marketing Beyond the Scale Ticket will take place on Tuesday, January 20th starting at 6:30 pm in the farm bureau auditorium. Dinner will be provided.

The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo will take place Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours 8:30-4 on the 21st and 8:30-3 on the 22nd.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve will host Raptors Up Close at the Lake of the Woods Pavilion on Saturday, January 24th from 10-11:30 am.

The Tri-Point FFA will hold their alumni auction on Saturday, January 24th in the high school gym. The silent auction and lunch will begin at 11:30 am with the live auction beginning at 1pm.

(Springfield-jm) —- The deadline to enroll in the State of Illinois’ new insurance marketplace has been extended once again. Get Covered Illinois announced on Monday that the deadline to enroll has been pushed back to January 31. Officials cited record enrollment as the reason for the deadline being moved. People who enroll for coverage by January 31 will start receiving benefits on February 1.

(Campustown-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is looking for tips that can help police solve a vehicle burglary spree that happened almost three months ago in Campustown. The spree happened the morning of October 21, 2025, at 202 East Green Street. Officials said that surveillance cameras recorded a person entering the building’s underground parking garage and breaking into several vehicles. The suspect is described as skinny and approximately 5′ 10″ tall. They were wearing a long black coat with a fur-lined hood, gray stocking cap, black face mask, gray sweatpants, gray gloves, plain white shoes and a black Nike backpack with a large Nike Swoosh on it. The suspect was also riding an electric scooter.

(Paxton-jm) - A No Kings Rally will be held on Saturday, January 24th in Paxton. The rally will take place near the Pueblo Lindo where the Ford County GOP will host a Republican meet and greet with voters.

(Champaign–dm)-If you have diabetes, you’ve probably heard “Watch your sweets!” or “Watch your carbs!” often. But we’re all human. We all crave a treat from time to time. So rather than avoiding things like candy and chips and just craving them more, health care providers have tips to be happy and keep your diabetes in check. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more.                        

Adcock suggests picking things like berries, melons, grapes or dark chocolate instead. You could also pair chips with carrots to get that “crunch” feeling without downing a whole bag of chips.

(Washington–dm)-Federal child care and welfare dollars for Illinois and four other states are unfrozen after a U.S. District Court judge in New York issued a temporary restraining order against the Trump administration’s move to freeze $10 billion in funding. Gov. J.B. Pritzker reacted on social media by saying what he called President Donald Trump’s “abuse of power” would not stand. The funding freeze by the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services came after alleged fraud involving federal funds for child care providers in Minnesota.

(Sprignffield–jc)  – Illinois Supreme Court Justice Mary Jane Theis has announced her retirement from the Illinois Supreme Court effective January 29, 2026. Justice Theis has served on the Supreme Court since  2010 and retires as one of the most prolific judges in Illinois history, having served in all levels of the judiciary in 40-plus years on the bench. She served as Chief Justice of the Supreme Court 

from 2022 to 2025.  First District Appellate Court Justice Sanjay T. Tailor was appointed to fill Justice Theis’ seat. 

(Chicago-jm) – Illinois announced Monday that it has sued the Department of Homeland Security for "unlawful and dangerous" tactics used by Customs and Border Protection and ICE agents in the state.  The Office of the Governor stated that the lawsuit will challenge the Trump Administration's "federal overreach" regarding various enforcement tactics. The lawsuit said that Illinois has a "proven track record" of working with federal law enforcement. However, the Governor's Office maintained ICE and CBP agents' "lack of training and supervision" and "continuous failure to de-escalate" since the start of Operation Midway Blitz. CPB and ICE agents have killed one Illinois resident and shot another since federal deployment began in September, according to the office.

(Gordyville–dm)-The 31st Midwest Ag Expo is scheduled for January 21st and 22nd at Gordyville USA.  Director of Farm Shows Jami Applegate talks about the return of an old tradition.

Director of Farm Shows Jami Applegate

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois schools will soon receive incentives to expand dual language programs thanks to a new state law. The law calls on the Illinois State Board of Education to adopt a comprehensive plan for school districts outlining steps to establish or expand dual language education in their schools by December 15. House Bill 3026 also requires Illinois to establish an optional recognition pathway to recognize biliteracy at various levels before high school by July 1, 2027. That change would include milestones for bilingual students in Pre-K, fifth grade and eighth grade to encourage early language development.

(The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman praised a bipartisan House vote extending enhanced Affordable Care Act subsidies, framing the legislation as a victory for families facing rising health care costs. U.S. Representative Eric Sorensen, Democrat from-Rockford, posted a video to social media as he walked off the House floor. The measure extends expanded A-C-A premium tax credits first enacted during the COVID-19 pandemic, which lower out-of-pocket insurance costs for enrollees. According to the Congressional Budget Office, however, extending those subsidies comes with a significant price tag. 

(Paxton–dm)-Paxton ERS is looking for volunteers to help with storm spotting, to help support the Paxton Fire and Police Departments and help with traffic control when needed.  Paxton ERS Secretary Kate Turner has more information.

Paxton ERS Secretary Kate Turner.  If you are interested you can call 217-781-3128 or 217-249-0700, or you can get more information on their Facebook page

(Iroquois County–dm)-Iroquois County Clerk Breein Suver has announced that Early Voting for Iroquois County registered voters will be held at the County Clerk’s Office, 1001 E. Grant, Watseka, Illinois, from February 5 thru March 16, 2026, weekdays, from 8:30 a.m. - 4:30 p.m.; Saturday, March 14th from 8:30 a.m. – noon. This early voting site serves all 37 precincts. Please note County Offices will be closed Thursday, February 12 and Monday, February 16, 2026.

(Bloomington–jc)  Illinois Corn Grower Association officials say a one time pay out is good for agriculture, but more could be done. WPXN”s Joel Clvuer has the story…

(Illinois–dm)-A new list ranking the best and worst places to retire in 2026 has Illinois ranked ninth from the bottom. CareScout compared nine data points across three categories: affordability, quality of life, and health care. Wyoming topped the list, followed by New Hampshire and Vermont. New Jersey ranked last, due to high costs of living and personal income tax burdens.

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Thursday, January 15th from 1:30-2:30 pm in the parking lot across from the Milford post office.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, January 15th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Dinner includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

The Cadillac in Paxton will host Ridgeland on Friday, January 16th. The show begins at 8pm. They will also host the 1985-Totally 80’s Mixtape Live on Saturday, January 17th. Doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8. 

(Springfield-jm) - The Illinois Department of Corrections has been allowed to continue using its controversial mail scanning policy despite public backlash. Agency leaders told the Joint Committee on Administrative Rules Friday that they have made significant changes to the policy after a public hearing and meetings with stakeholders. Those include new definitions to clarify types of mail and allow people to request printouts of notes from family and friends.

(Joliet–jc)  – Illinois Governor J B Pritzker insists there’s not been any alleged fraud in Illinois that should cause the Trump administration to withhold funds for welfare programs.  This week, U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Assistant Secretary Jim O’Neill said the nearly $1 billion being frozen for Illinois is part of $10 billion from states he said are potential fraud hotspots that deserve more scrutiny. Governor Pritzker was in Joliet and was asked about the funds being withheld from Illinois…

Illinois Governor J B Pritzker. Federal officials say they are looking into expenditures in multiple states as an oversight to avoid fraud, as allegedly seen in Minnesota

(Urbana-jm) – A Champaign County official running for state office was removed from the ballot. Champaign County Auditor George Danos was vying to become the state’s next Comptroller. He’d originally had more than 6,000 signatures that he said are from people in the state. Candidates need at least 5,000 to be eligible. But an objection alleged that 3,000 of those were not up to standard because the addresses either didn’t match, weren’t complete and more. The State Board of Elections said after reviewing each claim, they found 1,800 signatures were ineligible, dropping Danos under the required 5,000.

(Rantoul–jc)  – Winter is here, but plans for a busy summer continue to develop for the village of Rantoul. The Rantoul Sports Complex is full of baseball, softball to football and soccer events. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says in June the village has an event set for classic cars and more…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(Chatsworth-jm) – A Chatsworth man is jailed before his trial after authorities said they found him in possession of thousands of videos and several hundred photos of child pornography. A release from the Livingston County Sheriff’s Office said Jacob Monferdini, 23, was arrested in Chatsworth as part of an ongoing investigation of internet crimes against children under the age of 14. The release said Monferdini had in his possession 264 photos and 3,599 videos of child pornography. The Livingston County State’s Attorney’s Office has charged Monferdini with indecent solicitation of a child and traveling to meet a child. Both charges are Class 3 felonies, with possible prison sentences of two-to-five years if he’s convicted. Monferdini could also receive a community-based sentence of probation and time in the county jail if he’s guilty. The sheriff’s office said the investigation is continuing and additional charges are pending.

(Paxton–dm)-If you ever find out your water pipes have frozen, Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen has these tips on how to thaw out your pipes

Paxton Hardware and Rental owner Scott Allen.  You can hear more from Scott Saturday Mornings at 730 on Scott’s Tips for Success.

(Hoopeston-jm) – A Hoopeston man is facing multiple charges after police said he fled a traffic stop. Police attempted to stop 29 year old Paul Odom for a traffic violation just after midnight Saturday morning near 4th Street and East Young Avenue. Odom took off from police but was later arrested. He’s facing charges of aggravated fleeing and eluding, reckless driving, driving under the influence of alcohol, illegal transportation of alcohol, unlawful use of a weapon, speeding and disregarding a traffic control device. He was taken to the Vermilion County Jail.

(Chicago–jc)  –The network skipped the anthem on television on Saturday night for the Chicago Bears versus the Green Bay Packers game. Performing the anthem on Saturday night in Chicago was Paxton’s own Gina Miles. There is a copy of the anthem circulating on social media.  Miles was also a recent national winner on “the Voice. Miles continues her career with shows and appearances.

(Springfield-jm) – Nicor Gas on Friday filed a $221 million rate hike request with the Illinois Commerce Commission, less than two months after state regulators approved a $168 million rate hike for the utility. The company estimates that the increase, if approved in full, will add less than $6 to monthly gas bills for typical residential customers, or 6.7% annually, starting in 2027. Nicor distributes natural gas to around 2.3 million customers in northern Illinois. Consumer advocates expressed outrage with the move, calling on state regulators to reject the request, which comes only days after Peoples Gas filed for a $202 million rate hike on Monday.

(Springfield–jc)  –  One new law on the books in Illinois provides training for substitute teachers to get training for school safety. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema says this makes sense to keep school children, teachers and staff safe…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Mahomet-jm) – A heavily discussed bill made its way through the state legislature with the goal to protect drinking water across Central Illinois, and it’s now in effect. The Mahomet Aquifer is a source of fresh water underground for about one million people. But adding chemicals could put the safety of the water at risk, statewide. The bill was passed on August 1, 2025, but it just became official on January 1st. It says no one can do carbon sequestration — the process of storing extra carbon underground, over, under or passing through a sole source aquifer — like the Mahomet Aquifer is.

(Iroquois County–jc)  – A temporary solution to replace this CRIS transportation system is underway in Iroquois County. WPXN”s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Danville-jm) – Danville Area Community College has been awarded a grant worth nearly $600,000 to train a clean energy workforce. On Friday, DACC announced it has been given $592,984 to serve as the Clean Jobs Workforce Network Program hub for the East Central Region of Illinois. This funding will support a new workforce training initiative that prepares people for high-demand careers in clean energy, at no cost to participants. Through this award, DACC will deliver the Climate and Equitable Jobs Act  Workforce Hub program at its campus. The college will manage all aspects of the program, including outreach, recruitment, screening training and participant support. This will be done with the goal of building a skilled and diverse clean energy workforce for the region.

(Rantoul–dm)-Signups are going on for The Rantoul Parks and Recreation spring Youth Soccer. Recreation Specialist for the Village of Rantoul Phoenix LaComb has the details.

Recreation Specialist for the Village of Rantoul Phoenix LaComb.  To register, you can call 217-893-5700, or you can register online.

(Bloomington-jm) – A Sumatran tiger at the Miller Park Zoo in Bloomington has died. The zoo said Rojo, the 19 year old Sumatran tiger was put down after his health declined rapidly from kidney disease. Sumatran tigers' life expectancy is about 18 years. Rojo arrived at the Miller Park Zoo in 2017 from the Topeka Zoo in Kansas.

(Springfield-jm) — This is a midterm election year as candidates prepare to fight for offices in Illinois ahead of the March primary. On Thursday, Republican gubernatorial candidate Darren Bailey put out what he calls his "Blueprint for Illinois." His campaign focuses on affordability, cutting government waste and slashing utility bills, which he blames on the state's current energy policy. 

(The Center Square) – Nearly a billion federal taxpayer dollars for child care and family assistance programs are being withheld from the state of Illinois. The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services announced it would freeze $10 billion from five states. White House Press Secretary Karoline Leavitt on Wednesday said their goal is clear. Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker said all told, approximately $1 billion could be impacted for the Land of Lincoln. Pritzker said the freeze is “wrong, it is cruel,” and the state will take every step possible to defend those impacted. HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill said that should be easy

HHS Deputy Secretary Jim O’Neill 

(Urbana-jm) — A man accused of shooting his girlfriend in October was found fit to stand trial during a hearing yesterday. The incident occurred on October 7th, last year in Urbana The area of the shooting was near theUrbana Middle School. The schools went on a lock down that day. Upon investigation, police identified the suspect as the victim’s boyfriend, 21-year-old Noah Allen of Urbana. Allen is facing three charges, one of those being attempted first-degree murder, with a maximum sentence of 55 years. He’s also charged with aggravated battery with a firearm and unlawful possession of a firearm by a repeat felon.

(Vermilion County-jm) – A Danville man accused of aggravated battery against a bailiff was found guilty after a three-day trial this week. The Vermilion County State’s Attorney’s Office announced a jury found 36-year-old Lawrence Hancock of Danville guilty of aggravated battery of a state employee and aggravated battery in a public place, both Class 3 felonies. The trial happened almost three years after the battery happened in the same courthouse.

(Paxton–jc)  City of Paxton leaders continue to look for funding for expanding the city's streetscape program. Improvements have been made in several blocks of the downtown area and Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the plan is for doing several more blocks in the downtown area…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Chicago–jc)  -The Chicago Fed Real-Time Unemployment Rate Forecast is estimating the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics monthly unemployment rate at 4.56% for December, matching the actual BLS unemployment rate for November.

The December 2024 unemployment rate was 4.09%.

(Gibson city–jc)  Gibson City council members will look to approve their Ford County Multi-Jurisdictional Natural Hazard  Mitigation plan when they meet next week. A TIF agreement between the city and One Earth Energy is also on the January meeting agenda. Gibson City leaders will also consider a contract with Lee Excavating for property clean up. That amount is expected to be around 15 thousand dollars. The Gibson City, city council, meets on Monday night at 7 in the city council chambers on East 8th Street. 

(Urbana–jc)-University of Illinois System President Tim Killeen informed the Board of Trustees of the University of Illinois Thursday that he will step down at the conclusion of his current contract on June 30, 2027.  Board Chair Jesse Ruiz praised Killeen for leading with vision and integrity.  Killeen said that while his work as president continues, this is the right moment to begin preparing for the next era of U of I System leadership.

CHAMPAIGN – In 2025, the Champaign Police Department partnered with community organizations, neighborhood groups, and local agencies to strengthen connections across the community. Officers and staff engaged with residents through a wide range of activities. From Touch-a-Truck events for children to “Know Your Rights” presentations for community members of all ages. In total, Champaign Police dedicated over 2 thousand staff hours with  374 community events. This effort reflects a focused commitment to community policing, guided by the vision of City leadership. By building relationships throughout the year, police personnel fostered trust and collaboration, promoting public safety in Champaign.

(Springfield–jc)  – Governor JB Pritzker joined elected officials and advocates to sign the Clean and Reliable Grid Affordability Act,  marking a historic measure to lower utility bills for working families while securing Illinois’ long-term energy future. The new law is expected to help with electricity costs driven by private grid operators, expands cost-saving energy resources, and continues to grow Illinois’ clean energy economy across the state. This  legislation comes as Illinoisans and working families nationwide saw significant increases in electricity bills. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, republican from Channahon, opposed the measure saying safeguards and protections for individual families was not part of the legislation

(Urbana–jc) There continues to be a rise in flu cases in Champaign County. Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamadou Townkara says it is important to keep your vaccinations updated especially for certain age groups…

Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamdou Townkara

(Thomasboro-jm) — A house fire in Champaign County forced one family to find a temporary place to stay after a blaze ripped through their house. It happened at the corner of St. Joseph and Jacobsen Drives in Thomasboro. The fire department said that four people, a dog and a cat are all displaced. By the time the fire  department got to the house, they said the fire was in the garage. Crews from Thomasboro, Rantoul, Gifford and Sangamon Valley responded. Firefighters had to use foam to keep gas in the car and lawn mower from relighting. The cause of this fire is still under investigation.

(USDA–dm)-Health and Human Services Secretary Robert F. Kennedy Jr. and Agriculture Secretary Brooke Rollins discuss various aspects and focuses of the new Dietary Guidelines for Americans issued this week.

(Danville–jc)  A Juvenile was taken into custody Thursday at Danville high School. WCIA reports that the person is facing a terrorist charge in the incident. The youth was taken into custody before the start of school at Danville High School Thursday morning. The juvenile also faces several disorderly conduct charges.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  The village of Rantoul continues to look to hire help for the 20-26 seasons at the Rantoul Sports Complex. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says they have secured a wide variety of tournaments and games at the complex, again, this year, and help is needed…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(Springfield–jc)  –The Illinois State Board of Elections certified the March 2026 primary ballot this week, removing several Republican candidates for governor after upholding petition challenges. Remaining on the GOP gubernatorial ballot is Darren Bailey, Ted Dabrowski, James Mendrick and Rick Heidner. Gov. J.B. Pritzker will be unchallenged in the Democrats’ primary March 17. For U.S. Senate Candidates, Democrats will have 10 to choose from, Republicans six. Early voting starts February 5th

(Hoopeston)- The Hoopeston FFA Alumni Chapter will hold their annual FFA Auction on Saturday January 31st.  Hoopeston FFA Member Ken Anderson has the details

Hoopeston FFA Member Ken Anderson

(Northern Illinois–jc)  –The U.S. Attorney’s Office for the Northern District of Illinois says it cracked down on crime and implemented new policies in 2025.

Statistics the office released show indictments were up 34% compared to the previous year. The office also touts more focus on mass transit safety, health care fraud investigations and immigration enforcement efforts.

(Gilman–jc)  Iroquois West School board members will meet on Monday in a special session. The main topic on the agenda is the purchase or lease of a property for use by the school system. The Iroquois West School board meeting comes to order at 5 on Monday afternoon at the high school in Gilman.

WPXN News notes…

The Thawville American Legion will hold their all you can eat fish fry tonight from 4:30-7pm. Cost is $15.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner tonight from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10.

The Cadillac in Paxton will host country line dancing with DJ Maggie B tonight from 8-11pm. 

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Thursday, January 15th from 1:30-2:30 pm in the parking lot across from the Milford post office.

s(Springfield–jc) One new law that went into effect on January First deals with the Mahomet Aquifer. 104th District State Representative Brandun  Schweizer, Republican from Danville, a co-sponsor on the legislation, says Senate Bill 1723 bans carbon sequestration in any sequestration facility that overlies, underlies, or passes through a sole-source aquifer, like the Mahomet Aquifer…

104th District State Representative Brandun Schweizer, Republican from Danville

This new law provides vital protection against pollution from carbon capture and storage  projects, building on earlier efforts to safeguard the aquifer.

(Urbana-jm) – Weather permitting, drivers can expect intermittent lane closures along Cunningham Avenue/US 45 between East University Avenue and North Kenyon Road starting this week. The work is expected to continue through May 2026. Champaign Signal & Lighting will be making street light improvements, including underground conduit installation and replacement of luminaires, light poles, and lighting controllers. Through traffic will be maintained at all times.

(Rantoul–jc)  –  Village of Rantoul leaders are set to meet on Thursday afternoon at the Second Story Social building at 105 North Garrard in town. The reason is planning for the year and into the next several years says Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the third…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(The Center Square) – The Trump administration froze certain federal funding to Colorado this week amid growing national concerns about fraud in government-funded programs.The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services made the announcement on Tuesday. The freeze targets billions in funding to five Democrat-led states: Colorado, California, Illinois, Minnesota and New York.

The federal government cited concerns about “widespread fraud and misuse of taxpayer dollars in state-administered programs.”

(Rantoul–jc)   Rantoul Recreation Department Spring 20-26 Youth Soccer registration is now open. Registration ends on March third. More information is found by calling the Rantoul  Recreation Department at (217) 893-5700 or by going on-line. Cost is 50 dollars per player and age groups are determined by the age of the participant on January first of this year.

(Undated–jc)  Several January weather fronts will be moving into the midwest now through the weekend. U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey says the first one will see warmer temperatures and more rain in the midwest…

U S D A Meteorologist Brad Rippey

says it has substantiated 26 cases of adult-on-student sexual misconduct at Chicago Public Schools in the agency’s report for Fiscal Year 2025. According to the report, six of the investigations resulted in criminal charges and four already resulted in convictions. The OIG said it found many instances of adult-on-student sexual misconduct across two unnamed high schools located on one campus.

(Springfield–jc)  –A  number of pieces of legislation approved in the Illinois General Assembly officially went into law on January 1st, including legislation sponsored by 88th District State Representative Regan Deering, Republican from Decatur. Deering’s legislation  requires the Illinois State Board of Education  to create a public form and place it on its website for educational opportunities…

88th District State Representative Regan Deering, Republican from Decatur. 

The law requires the form to be created and posted by July 1st, 2026.

(Champaign County-jm) – Three Champaign County communities had house fires Wednesday. The Urbana Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1000 block of North Goodwin Avenue. The house was abandoned. The St. Joseph Stanton Fire Department responded to a house fire in the 1300 block of County Road 2250 East in St. Joseph for the report of a fire. 6 additional fire departments responded to assist. A Third fire was reported in the village of Thomasboro on Wednesday. That fire started around 5 pm yesterday. Thomasboro, Rantoul and Gifford fire departments all responded to the blaze. A family of four is looking for a place to stay

(Paxton–jc)  The next steps for a future new gas station in the city of Paxton is moving forward. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the group heading the new gas station project have been working with engineers and state officials to prepare the site for the new business…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Urbana–jc)  –The Illinois Flash Index for December ended the year at 101-point-7, the same reading as November. For the year, the index was down from a 102-point-4 reading in December of 2024. This indicates a slowing but still expanding Illinois economy. Overall, 2025 was a year of steady economic growth for both the state and nation. Fears of a recession have subsided, and inflation has moderated. Illinois tax receipts for December showed growth for both the individual income and sales taxes compared to the same month last year after adjusting for inflation The Flash Index is the weighted average of Illinois growth rates in corporate earnings, consumer spending, and personal income as estimated from receipts for corporate income, individual income, and retail sales taxes. 

(Undated-jm) – Have you purchased meat at the grocery store over the last 10 years? If so, you may be entitled to a cash payment as part of a multi-million dollar settlement with two giant meat companies as part of a lawsuit that alleges they overcharged customers. The class action lawsuit claims several beef processors, including J-B-S, Cargill, National Beef and Tyson Foods, "conspired to limit the supply of beef and increase prices in the market." The companies denied any wrongdoing, instead agreeing to settle for a total of $82.5 million, with $55 million from Tyson and $32.5 million from Cargill. The sweeping settlement applies to dozens of fresh and frozen beef products sold at grocery stores in 27 states, including Illinois. Claims can be submitted via mail or online. The deadline to submit a claim to receive a cash payment is June 30 of this year.

(Champaign–jc) Three Champaign County residents will be honored at a Martin Luther King Junior celebration. WPXN”s Joel Cluver has the story…

WPXN News notes…

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Thursday, January 15th from 1:30-2:30 pm in the parking lot across from the Milford post office.

The Paxton Emergency Response Service will hold their all you can eat chicken and noodle supper on Thursday, January 15th from 4:30-6:30 pm. Dinner includes chicken and noodles, mashed potatoes, green beans, dessert and drink. Cost is $11 for adults, $6 for kids 6-13. Deliveries available in town by calling 217-379-0349.

The Cadillac in Paxton will host Ridgeland on Friday, January 16th. The show begins at 8pm. They will also host the 1985-Totally 80’s Mixtape Live on Saturday, January 17th. Doors open at 7 with the show starting at 8. 

The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo will take place Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours 8:30-4 on the 21st and 8:30-3 on the 22nd.

The Champaign County Forest Preserve will host Raptors Up Close at the Lake of the Woods Pavilion on Saturday, January 24th from 10-11:30 am.

(Springfield-jm) – Illinois is six months away from having a new state agency responsible for early childhood education programs. There have already been massive investments made in the Department of Early Childhood. This agency will officially launch on July 1, roughly two years after Gov. JB Pritzker signed Senate Bill 1 into law. The Department of Early Childhood will take over the state's childhood block grant program, childcare assistance, home visiting and early intervention services. It will also be responsible for daycare licensing, which became a problem for the Illinois Department of Children and Family Services.

(Springfield–jc)  One new law on the books has been put in place for the safety of school children. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon says when someone at a school is being investigated there is a procedure that can be followed…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon

(Springfield-jm) – A new Illinois law enacted January 1 could reduce discrimination in the life insurance industry. Insurance companies are now banned from limiting or denying life insurance coverage based on a criminal record. Sponsors said families should not be put in debt because of a crime their loved one committed a lifetime ago. They also argue life insurance companies should provide coverage regardless of the crime someone committed. The law does not require companies to offer life insurance coverage to people who are currently incarcerated. Still, Republicans are concerned about how this law could shake up life insurance policies.

(Urbana–jc)  Seasonal flu is on the rise in one area county. Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamadou Tounkara says it is the “flu season”...
    

Champaign Urbana Public Health Department Deputy Administrator Mamadou Tounkara

(Springfield–jc)  –The Illinois Department of Employment Security announced Tuesday that the state’s unemployment rate was 4.4% in November, unchanged from September. November’s rate was down -0.5 percentage point from the same month, one year ago, based on data provided by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Total nonfarm payrolls were down 0.2% in November.

(Springfield–jc)  – Miss Ford County 2025, Charley Ulrich, of Paxton will compete in the 2026 Illinois Association of Agricultural Fairs State Queen Pageant at the Crowne Plaza in Springfield, Illinois. The dates for the competition are Thursday, January 15 through Sunday, January 18th. Charley will compete with 74 other County Fair Queens for the Miss Illinois County Fair Queen 2026 title. The contestants will be judged on personal interview, stage presence, beauty of face and physical condition, and speech and communication skills. Personal interviews are conducted off-stage on Friday. Miss Ford County will officially compete on stage as Contestant #43 in the Saturday afternoon preliminaries beginning at 7:00 p.m. in the Ruby/Diamond room on the second floor of the Crowne Plaza. 

(Springfield–jc)  –The Illinois Criminal Justice Information Authority has announced $50 million in taxpayer-funded grants for historically underserved communities. The group  says it will allocate $35 million to support community re-entry from the criminal legal system, economic development, and civil legal aid programs, with another $15 million slotted for youth development and violence prevention initiatives. 

(Washington–jc)  –How did ag producers fare with prices received for their commodities in November? Rod Bain has the numbers…

(Springfield-jm) – The C-D-C has changed federal guidelines which said that young children no longer need 18 vaccinations but only 11. It’s a change the state will not follow, sticking with the old guidelines. The C-D-C move comes at the height of flu season, which is surging across the nation. Cases of flu have been on the rise in Illinois, with several hospitals in Central Illinois implementing visitor restrictions due to the large number of respiratory illnesses. Illinois reported the first influenza death in a child this week for this flu season. During the 2024/2025 season, Illinois reported 12 pediatric deaths from influenza, six from RSV and three from COVID-19. So far this flu season, 21.91% of Illinois residents have received a flu shot.

(Paxton–jc)  –  City of Paxton leaders  continue to try and sell a property on south Market Street in the city. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the property was obtained by the city and the structure on the property was torn down and its now for sale…

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Springfield-jm) – A proposed law in Illinois would require health warning labels on gas appliances, such as stoves, ovens or water heaters. House bill 4272, filed by Representative Michael Crawford, would prohibit the sale of a non-externally vented natural gas appliance without a warning of respiratory health risks. Illinois Democrats attempted to pass similar legislation before in 2023 but that bill never advanced out of the Rules Committee.

(Rantoul–jc)  The new community outside pavilion placed in downtown Rantoul can be used for a variety of purposes. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says one use will be for “Freedom Friday’s” this year in the village…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

The Illinois Department of Labor says a new amendment to the Victims’ Economic Security and Safety Act clarifies that employees may use an employer-provided device to document or record evidence of violence affecting themselves and or their family. Officials say workers who use a business-owned device to record or preserve evidence of domestic violence, sexual violence, or stalking may not be disciplined or retaliated against for that use. The amendment took effect on January First.

SPRINGFIELD — As Illinois heads into a new year and a new legislative session, House Republican Leader Tony McCombie is calling for a clear change in direction, one focused on affordability, public safety, and job-creating infrastructure….

84th District State Representative-Illinois House Minority Leader Toni McCombie, Republican from Savannah.

(Springfield–jc)  –The Illinois Department of Children and Family Services is accepting applications for the 2026 DCFS Scholarship Program until March 31. Scholarship recipients receive up to five consecutive years of tuition and academic fee waivers if they attend a public university or community college, a monthly grant of $1,577 to offset other expenses and a medical card. In 2025, DCFS awarded scholarships to 334 college-bound youth.  Applications are available online.

WPXN News notes

The Thawville American Legion will hold their all you can eat fish fry on Friday, January 9th from 4:30-7pm. Cost is $15.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, January 9th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10.

The Cadillac in Paxton will host country line dancing with DJ Maggie B on Friday, January 9th from 8-11pm. 

The Eastern Illinois Foodbank will hold a food distribution on Thursday, January 15th from 1:30-2:30 pm in the parking lot across from the Milford post office.

The 2026 Midwest Ag Expo will take place Wednesday, January 21st and Thursday, January 22nd at Gordyville USA. Over 175 vendors will be present. Free admission and free parking. Hours 8:30-4 on the 21st and 8:30-3 on the 22nd.

(Illinois–jc)  Towns, villages and Municipalities are invited to participate in a 250th birthday celebration of the signing of the Declaration of Independence. The celebration is set for July 4th. 53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channanon, says a time capsule project is underway…

53rd District State Senator Chris Balkema, Republican from Channahon.

(Rankin-jm) – A man from Rankin convicted of a child sex crime is receiving a harsher sentence after violating the terms of his probation. 29-year-old Wyatt Morris has been resentenced to four years in state prison after violating probation. Morris was originally charged with indecent solicitation of a child, a Class 3 felony, in March 2023 after sending sexually explicit images to a 16-year-old victim via social media and soliciting the teen to engage in sexual acts. He then pleaded guilty and was sentenced to 30 months of sex offender probation in March 2024. A petition to revoke Morris’ probation was filed in October 2024 after Morris failed to complete court-ordered sex offender treatment. Morris’ prison term will be followed by one year of mandatory supervised release. He will also be required to register as a sex offender upon his release.

(Rantoul–jc)  The downtown streetscape project continues in the village of Rantoul as we start the new year. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third says the entertainment structure in downtown Rantoul, new streets, signage and more are reasons that new business and activities are coming to downtown Rantoul in 20-26…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third

(Urbana-jm) – Champaign County is putting their former administrative center on the market. The county has listed the Brookens Administrative Center for sale for $3.5 million. The property will be maintained by the county until a sale is finalized and the county no longer owns the facility.

(Undated–jc)  Illinois U S Senate Candidates differ on Affordable Tax Credits. WPXN’s Joel Cluver has the story…

(Paxton–dm-)The Ford County Sheriff’s Committee will meet Wednesday January 7th at the Sheriff's Boardroom at 9am.  Items to be discussed include action on law enforcement service contracts with the villages of Piper City and Sibley.  Also to be discussed is the adoption of the Ford County Emergency Management Agency Donation Policy.

(Paxton–dm)-It was a January  cold and sad day as this year’s Paxton Christmas tree was taken down on Monday.   Many thanks to Paxton Pride, the Paxton Chamber of Commerce and the City of Paxton for helping with the community project. . Also thanks to the Adam Johnson family of Paxton for donating the tree this year. More thanks to workers from E I E C in placing the tree in the downtown area of the city.  The tradition will continue in 20-26 and anyone in Paxton that would like to donate the tree for the 20-26 holiday is asked to called a member of the Paxton Service Club or Paxton City Hall.

BLOOMINGTON, Ill. – U.S. Department of Agriculture  released further details  on the commodity-by-commodity national payment rates for the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program, allocating $44.36 per corn acre to growers nationwide. By comparison, under the previous Emergency Commodity Assistance Program authorized by Congress, corn had a payment rate of $42.91 per acre. Farmers who qualify for the bridge assistance can expect payments to be made by the end of February 2026.Illinois Corn Growers Association President Mark Bunselmeyer says that the Association appreciates U-S-D-A’s work to implement the Farmer Bridge Assistance Program and recognize this effort as an important step in helping farmers manage ongoing economic challenges.

(Chicago–dm)-Chicago Mayor Brandon Johnson says 2025 was one of the safest years the city has had in decades. Through Dec. 30, Chicago recorded 416 homicides, fewer than any year since 1965. The city also reported fewer shootings, robberies and vehicular hijackings. The mayor’s office credited the combined work of Chicago Police, Community Violence Intervention partners, community-based organizations and the Johnson administration’s “strategic investments.”  President Donald Trump said Sunday that federal law enforcement helped bring down crime in Chicago.

(Paxton–jc)  Now that the city of Paxton has been approved for their Mitigation Procedure with governing officials, now can be a time to look for some financing to fund approved projects. Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold says the city has several potential projects that need this type of funding

Paxton Mayor Bill Ingold

(Champaign-jm) – Champaign County Crime Stoppers is asking for help from the public in solving a pair of retail thefts from Champaign’s Target that resulted in $6,500 worth of loss for the store. Officials said the thefts happened September 14 and November 22. In the first theft, two male subjects entered the store and filled a cart full of clothing, Shark vacuums and a Ninja slushie machine. They left without paying, stealing just under $1,200 worth of merchandise. The suspects were described as being Black and 25 to 40 years old. In the second theft, two more male subjects selected electronic items that included “numerous” Xbox consoles and digital cameras. They concealed the items in bookbags and suitcases, then left without paying. They stole over $5,300 worth of merchandise. The suspects were also Black, but were described as being younger than the suspects in the first theft — about 18 to 25 years old.

(Paxton–dm)-If you like line dancing, the Cadillac in Paxton will be hosting a night of country line dancing this Friday January 9th.  Cadillac owner Alan Meyer has more information.

Cadillac owner Alan Meyer.  Tickets for line dancing are $5 in advance or $10 at the door,

(Ford County–dm)-The Ford County Sheriff’s office released their activity report for the month of December.  Included are 12 traffic accidents, 15 warning citations,

20 traffic citations, serving 26 court summons and 14 warrants.

WATSEKA, Ill. — Iroquois Memorial Hospital announced that its laboratory has successfully passed a rigorous Joint Commission accreditation survey, earning continued accreditation for the next two years and reaffirming its commitment to the highest standards of quality, safety and accuracy in diagnostic testing.

Laboratory services are accredited separately from hospital-wide accreditation and are evaluated against highly specialized standards. The Joint Commission is a nationally recognized, independent organization that evaluates and accredits healthcare organizations based on evidence-based performance standards. Accreditation is granted only after an extensive, unannounced on-site survey that closely examines laboratory practices and performance.

WPXN News notes…

The St Joseph-Swearingen Library announces its Winter Used Book Sale. The book sale will end Wednesday, January 28th.  All items are for sale by donation. Books, DVDs, music CDs and audio books will be available.

The American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. today, January 6th, at the First United Methodist Church, 210 W. Center St., Paxton. For an appointment to donate blood that day, people can call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code “Paxton Community.”

The Thawville American Legion will hold their all you can eat fish fry on Friday, January 9th from 4:30-7pm. Cost is $15.

The Elliott Amvets will hold their spaghetti dinner on Friday, January 9th from 5-7 pm. Cost is $10.

(Springfield–jc)  –Protected health information for more than 700,000 customers of rehabilitation services and Medicaid and Medicare savings programs may have been compromised. The Illinois Department of Human Services announced maps meant to determine where to open new local offices were publicly viewable.

To date, IDHS said it was unaware of any actual or attempted misuse of personal information as a result of this incident.

(The Center Square) – One of the nearly 300 new laws that took effect in Illinois New Year’s Day is a ban on compact fluorescent light bulbs. State Rep. Nicholas Smith, D-Chicago, introduced House Bill 2363 in February 2023. Gov. J.B. Pritzker signed the measure in August 2024. The law prohibits the sale and distribution of screw-base and bayonet-base compact fluorescent lamps. Restrictions on pin-base compact fluorescent and linear fluorescent lamps are set to begin in 2027. HB 2363’s Senate sponsor, state Sen. Adriane Johnson, D-Buffalo Grove, said toxic pollutants in fluorescent bulbs pose a health risk.

(USDA–dm)-Effects continue due to a surprising USDA report in August reflecting the size of this year’s corn crop. Rod Bain has more

(Urbana-jm) – As all Carle Health service areas throughout central and southeastern Illinois face increasing rates of respiratory illness, the health system is taking temporary precautions in line with the comprehensive viral respiratory prevention and control recommendations from the Illinois Department of Public Health and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The updated guidelines include: patient rooms are limited to two visitors at a time, visitors must be 18 years or older and anyone experiencing respiratory symptoms are strongly encouraged to wear a mask while in their facilities. Carle joins OSF as the latest medical providers in the area to implement restrictions.

(Paxton-jm) – The City of Paxton will hold Christmas tree pickup on Monday, January 5th. The city asks residents to place their trees neatly near the alley or street.

(The Center Square) – An Illinois congressman’s warning that Americans are paying more for groceries is drawing pushback from economists who say federal inflation data shows food prices are easing. In a video posted online, U.S. Rep. Eric Sorensen, D-Rockford, opens his refrigerator and points to everyday grocery items, saying their prices have “all gone up significantly.” Sorensen cites immigration policy as a driver of grocery costs, saying he supports farmers and an immigrant agricultural workforce to keep prices down. He did not mention taxes, which can also affect grocery bills, according to Nicole Huyer, a senior economic analyst at the Heritage Foundation. Illinois’ statewide grocery tax ended Jan. 1,

(Springfield–jc)  –Biologists at Illinois Department of Natural Resources fisheries are collecting live Christmas trees to be used as fish habitat in local lakes after the holidays. Agency officials said the trees will be bundled, weighted and submerged at lakes, providing habitat for multiple species and promoting algae growth for insects that attract fish for anglers. The I-D-N-R Office of Fisheries website has drop-off location information and instructions.

(Chicago–jc)  –Federal authorities are searching for an alleged child predator last seen in Chicago.According to U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement, Ricardo Vega is a citizen of Mexico wanted for contacting underage girls online, sending them sexually abusive videos and images, and instructing them to reproduce the explicit material using themselves or their younger siblings. ICE said Vega was active in online chat rooms frequented by child predators.

(Springfield–jc)  – President Donald Trump is praising the United States military for capturing Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro, but Illinois Gov. J.B. Pritzker says the president’s action is unconstitutional. The president held a press conference at the White House Saturday and said the U.S. Armed Forces conducted an extraordinary military operation in Caracas late Friday and early Saturday to capture Venezuelan dictator Nicolas Maduro and his wife, Cilia Flores.The president said no U.S. service members were killed and no U.S.. equipment was lost during the operation. Trump said Venezuela would be under U.S. control.

(champaign–dm)- A new federal law should make travel easier for breastfeeding moms. Tim Ditman of OSF HealthCare has more.

 Miller says since the law took effect right before the holidays...not all TSA workers will be up to speed. But, she expects the law, overall, will get moms through security quicker...and with less stress.

(Urbana-jm) – The Urbana Fire Department responded to the former OSF On Call Urgent Care building in Urbana after a car hit the building Sunday afternoon. Officials said the driver fled the area. The fire department responded to the building, located at 520 N. Cunningham Avenue, around 12:15 p.m. A car hit a window outside the building — damaging both the window and window frame — but leaving the structure of the building intact.

(Undated-jm) – A service that provides to seniors and those with disabilities is abruptly coming to an end. CRIS Rural Mass Transit announced this afternoon it will no longer provide rides in Vermilion, Ford and Iroquois Counties and dissolve all together. They say its due to the state freezing funds to the group. Local county board members have expressed frustration with the lack of communication from the state.

(The Center Square) - The U.S. Department of Health and Human Services says states will not receive matching child-care funds until they verify that providers are legitimate, and President Donald Trump says Illinois is worse than Minnesota on the issue. The U.S. Department of Homeland Security and the Federal Bureau of Investigation are probing fraud allegations involving tens of millions of federal taxpayer dollars sent to day care centers in Minnesota. Trump discussed the issue over the New Year’s Holiday in Palm Beach, Florida.

(Springfield-jm) – The federal government has awarded Illinois $193.4 million per year for five years to expand healthcare access in rural areas. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services outlined three key categories of initiatives for the federal taxpayer-funded Rural Healthcare Transformation Program fund: transforming rural healthcare delivery, overcoming geographic barriers of care, and building a resilient rural healthcare workforce.

(Springfield-jm) – January 1st marked the new year and a new challenge. Dry January. WPXN’s Jason Madden reports…

(Gibson City-jm) – An elderly Gibson City man has been arrested and charged with aggravated arson for allegedly setting fire to his apartment the day after Christmas. Ford County State’s Attorney Andrew Killian filed one count of aggravated arson, a Class X felony, against 71 year old Roger Leisure. Leisure, who listed an address at the Schoolhouse Apartments at 200 N. Melvin St. in Gibson City, allegedly committed arson at his apartment building on Friday, December 26, according to charging documents. The fire “partially damaged” the building and occurred while other elderly and disabled tenants of the building were inside, the documents noted. If convicted of the Class X felony, Leisure faces a mandatory sentence ranging from six to 30 years in prison, up to a $25,000 fine and possible restitution. Leisure is due back in Ford County Circuit Court for a preliminary hearing at 2:45 p.m. Tuesday, Jan. 27, before Judge Matt Fitton.

(Washington–jm) – Looking for ways to reuse or recycle your real Christmas tree after its holiday display? There are some creative ideas to consider, according to a Cooperative Extension expert. Rod Bain reports…

(Urbana-jm) – The man accused of killing a 22-year-old pedestrian and injuring a University of Illinois Police officer in a crash in Urbana in December will stay in jail while awaiting his trial. 31-year-old James Buford of Rantoul appeared in court for a detention hearing Wednesday. The day before, the State had filed a petition to keep Buford detained pre-trial; during the detention hearing the court found that the need for detention had been met. Buford is scheduled to appear in court again on January 27 for a pre-trial conference. Buford was arraigned on multiple charges, including driving the wrong way on a one-way, leaving the scene of an accident resulting in death, reckless homicide and possessing a weapon as a felon. The Urbana Police Department confirmed the charges are in relation to the deadly hit-and-run on December 20th on the U of I campus.

(Springfield-jm) – The Federal Reserve Bank of Chicago’s National Financial Conditions Index decreased to –0.57 in the week ending Dec. 26, suggesting looser financial conditions where credit is considered to be easier and cheaper for businesses and consumers.  The index updates U.S. financial conditions in money markets, debt and equity markets, and traditional and “shadow” banking systems. The Chicago Fed’s district includes all of Iowa and most of Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin.

(Rantoul-jm) – Yesterday was New Year’s Day. We asked area leaders to look ahead to 2026. Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third…

Rantoul Mayor Sam Hall the Third.

(Champaign-jm) — A man accused of threatening to “shoot up” Champaign’s Kraft facility and choking a deputy as he was being arrested was granted pretrial release on Wednesday. 31-year-old Davante Gathings was arrested on December 8th. Gathings allegedly threatened to shoot up the Kraft plant after a security worker wouldn’t let him inside to make a food delivery. When law enforcement arrived on the scene, police said that Gathings was not cooperative and put a deputy in a choke hold. He was detained pretrial during a detention hearing on December 10th, but was told that he could file a motion to change that decision — which is what he did about three weeks later. On December 29th, Gathings’ attorneys filed a motion to reconsider pretrial release. The State’s Attorney’s Office petitioned to keep him detained but he was granted pretrial release with conditions on December 31st. The details of his pre-trial release were not immediately clear in court records. Gathings is charged with aggravated battery to a peace officer, resisting a peace officer, threatening a public official and driving under the influence. He’s due back in court January 6th.

(Roberts-jm) – A non-compliant sex offender in Ford County is heading to prison. Edgar Hubner of Roberts was sentenced to four years in prison for violating the terms of his probation. According to the courts, Hubner failed to report to probation on two occasions and failing to engage in mental health services. 

(Washington-jm) – What were some of the threats of farm animal disease this year and what did it mean for various parts of the livestock industry? Rod Bain reports…

(Paxton-jm) – The City of Paxton will hold Christmas tree pickup on Monday, January 5th. The city asks residents to place their trees neatly near the alley or street.

WPXN News Notes…

The Elliott Amvets will host their Family Night tonight from 5-7 pm. Cost is $15 and includes chicken, fish or shrimp and two sides.

The St Joseph-Swearingen Library announces its Winter Used Book Sale. The book sale will begin Monday, January 5th and will end Wednesday, January 28th.  All items are for sale by donation. Books, DVDs, music CDs and audio books will be available.

The American Red Cross blood drive will be held from 12:30 to 5:30 p.m. Tuesday, January 6th, at the First United Methodist Church, 210 W. Center St., Paxton. For an appointment to donate blood that day, people can call 800-733-2767 or visit redcrossblood.org and use sponsor code “Paxton Community.”